Former Test cricketers Chandu Borde, Ajit Wadekar and Dilip Vengsarkar expressed surprise at Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision to quit the longer format of the game with immediate effect with one more match to go in the four-game series against Australia.
- What are your favourite memories of Dhoni in Tests? Tell us!
However, both Borde and Wadekar said the decision was understandable, especially with the country not doing well overseas under Dhoni's leadership over the last few years.
"To me it was a real surprise. I thought he will play for one or two more years in Test cricket as he's a very fit person," said former captain and ex-chief selector Vengsarkar.
"It came as a surprise, didn't it, that he quit midstream. It (decision to quit) could have been taken earlier. But perhaps he thought it was the right time to hand over the mantle to the next man," Borde said.
"I think he has quit in the larger interest of the game," Borde added.
Wadekar too felt Dhoni could have waited till the end of the series before announcing the decision.
"The decision was extraordinary. I feel he should have waited till the end of the series (after January 6-10, 2015 fourth Test at Sydney). He has already missed the first Test (at Adelaide because of a prior injury)," Wadekar said.
But the former India skipper, who had to quit as captain as well as player in 1974 after his side was humiliated 0-3 in England, said Dhoni's record as Test captain of late has dipped in overseas conditions.
"His performance as captain overseas in Test cricket has not been good," remarked 73-year-old Wadekar.
Vengsarkar, while conceding Dhoni's captaincy record overseas has been "average", pointed out that he just did not have a bowling attack capable of dismissing rival teams twice away from home.
"His overall record overseas has been average, but India does not have the bowling attack to take 20 wickets in overseas conditions," the 116-Test veteran said.
Former India spin great Erapalli Prasanna termed Dhoni as captain par excellence.
"Tiger Pataudi and Saurav Ganguly had the qualities of building teams, but Dhoni took the team the highest pinnacle -- we were number one in Tests besides being ODI and T20 World Champions," he told PTI.
Prasanna said Dhoni may not be a flamboyant and creative captain like Pataudi and Ganguly, but he had the qualities inherent subtly.
"Dhoni may not show the flamboyance and creativity of captaincy on-field like Pataudi and Ganguly, but he subtly displayed these qualities on the field," he added.
Asked how he rates Kohli as the captain, Prasanna said the Delhi-based player is an "absolute combo" of Ganguly and Dhoni, but he should be a little diplomatic, which is very vital for any captain.
"Kohli has all the aggressive qualities of Dhoni and Ganguly, but he should learn to be diplomatic, which is vital for any international captain. It is good to be aggressive with his teammates in the dressing room, but not against the opponents -- on the field," he said.
Prasanna said Dhoni's retirement from Tests came as a surprise.
"It came as a surprise to me. Usually captains hang their boots after a series," he said.
Prasanna said Dhoni should have announced his retirement after the Sydney Test as that way he could have guided Virat Kohli in the final match of the series.
"However, I do not want to take the charm of Kohli away as he is also a good captain as he has shown in the first Test against Australia," he added.
