Thaindian News

New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) Former India captain Sourav Ganguly feels that Mahendra Singh Dhoni is no longer interested in playing Test cricket.

Ganguly termed Dhoni’s comments to take a call on his Test career by 2013 as a joke.

“He is obviously under a lot of pressure as a player and a captain. I wish he is joking and trying to divert the attention of media after getting tired of answering routine questions about the team’s poor showing,” said Ganguly.

Ganguly said Dhoni’s comments were ill-timed.

“If he is really serious, then it is not sensible of him at all to make such a comment 24 hours before the start of an important Test match. I definitely feel that Dhoni does not enjoy Test cricket. His performance in Test and ODI cricket is poles apart and by making such a statement right now, he has also perhaps explained his complete disinterest in the longer format of the game,” Ganguly told a TV channel from Perth.

Kapil Dev, who led India to a famous World Cup win in 1983, feared that Dhoni’s comments could create a rift in the team.

“If Dhoni has made up his mind to quit Test cricket, then the same should have been conveyed to the selectors and the board after returning from Australia. His first priority right now should be to win the Perth Test. He made this team No.1 and his focus should be to achieve that goal once again. The timing of his statement is completely wrong. It is fine if the team knows about it otherwise the squad can fall apart midway through the tour with players thinking about their next skipper rather than focusing on the game,” Kapil said.

“Team should be brought together in such trying circumstances. But Dhoni’s comment has created a huge doubt, not only in the team dressing room but also amongst the fans back home. There was a time when between 28 to 32 years, a Test cricketer used to peak,” he added.

Ganguly was surprised with Dhoni’s comments that he wants to take a call on his career keeping in mind the 2015 World Cup.

“I don’t understand that how can one continue to play the game with the sole goal of participating in the World Cup? Also, one should not forget that the 2015 World Cup is in Australia. If you cannot play well Down Under right now, what is the surety of doing it in 2015,” Ganguly said.