Sachin Tendulkar reveals the reason for declining Team India captaincy in 2007 due to health concerns. He recommended MS Dhoni for the role, citing his cricketing brain and calm demeanor. Dhoni went on to achieve great success as India’s captain leading India to T20 World Cup title in 2007, the ODI World Cup title in 2011 and the Champions Trophy title in 2013, apart from taking India to the pinnacle in Test cricket.

NEW DELHI: That it was India batting legend Sachin Tendulkar who had recommended MS Dhoni’s name for captaincy is a known fact.


It was in 2007 that the Indian cricket board (BCCI) had offered Tendulkar that captaincy in 2007 but he declined due to his health condition.
The batting maestro had recommended MS Dhoni’s name instead for the role of captaincy after observing his calm demeanor and his decisive power.

Now in a viral video, Tendulkar is seen talking on a stage telling the audience what led to him declining Team India’s captaincy.

Tendulkar says, “The real reason for turning down captaincy was that my body was giving me a lot of trouble and I remember having that meeting with Mr. Pawar (Sharad) in England, it was before The Oval match and he said ‘according to me you should take the leadership role’. I said sir my leadership role as a player will always be there, only the captain tag won’t be there in front of me but whatever in my capacity till I hang up my boots, I will always give my 100% for the country. I’m going to suggest you a name who I feel has a good cricketing brain. Because I used to interact quite a bit with MS Dhoni, I would field in the slips and that’s how this happened and the rest is history.”

Dhoni went on to become one of the most successful captains in Indian cricket history leading India to T20 World Cup title in 2007, the ODI World Cup title in 2011 and the Champions Trophy title in 2013, apart from taking India to the pinnacle in Test cricket.