MS Dhoni 'happy to give away' India captaincy after series defeat
Monday 22 June 2015 08:30, UK
MS Dhoni would be willing to stand down as India one-day captain and focus on his own game if it was for the good of the team.
Dhoni, 33, gave up the Test captaincy midway through the series in Australia in December before retiring from the five-day format altogether.
And after presiding over his country's first-ever one-day series defeat to Bangladesh, Dhoni was asked if he still enjoyed leading his side.
"I am really enjoying my cricket," Dhoni said after his side's six-wicket loss at Mirpur on Sunday. "I know this question was coming. I know the media really loves me.
"Yes, if it is a justifiable thing that if you remove me and the Indian cricket will start doing really well, and if I am the reason for all the bad that is happening to Indian cricket, definitely I would love to step away and play as a player.
"Ultimately you want India to win. It doesn't matter who is the captain.
"I was never really in line to become a captain. It was a job or responsibility for me. I have taken that responsibility. If they want to take it away, I am happy to give it away."
Dhoni took over as ODI skipper from Rahul Dravid after the 2007 World Cup and is regarded as India's finest limited-overs captain, winning the Twenty20 World Cup, the 2011 50-overs World Cup at home and also the Champions Trophy in England.
"What is more important is to play for the country and contribute to the team and try to keep the dressing room atmosphere good," he added. "So that whenever youngsters are coming in, they can come and perform. That will be the ultimate achievement for me.
"Indian cricket had been used to players coming in toned, ready for international cricket. Now it has changed. You have to grind it through. You can't win every series you play."
