Signs were there that the current captain was ready to pass on the baton to his successor. (Source: Reuters file)

Perhaps this was a little overdue. A young team is trying to find its footing in the longer format and a young man, answering to the name of Virat Kohli is ready to lead them to the future. Also, India under MS Dhoni have had become serial losers in away Test matches. Today in Melbourne, India lost their sixth overseas Test series on the bounce. Dhoni quietly decided to slip under the radar.

On the fourth day of the third Test against Australia, India had a team huddle during the afternoon session. It was Kohli who gave the lecture, while Dhoni, like other team members, listened intently. Signs were there that the current captain was ready to pass on the baton to his successor. The decision, however, came abruptly. He didn’t drop a hint at the post match presentation, nor did he mention about his retirement from Test cricket during the press conference. The information came via a BCCI press release which said: “One of the greatest Test captains under whose leadership India became the No. 1 team in the Test rankings, MS Dhoni has decided to retire from Test cricket citing the strain of playing all formats of cricket.

“MS Dhoni has chosen to retire from Test cricket with immediate effect in order to concentrate on ODI and T20 formats. Virat Kohli will be the captain of the Indian team for the fourth and final Test against Australia to be played in Sydney from January 6.”

A low profile call from India’s most high-profile cricketer and perhaps it’s just a coincidence that circumstances are strikingly similar to his predecessor Anil Kumble’s departure. The latter, too, had called it quits mid-series in 2008. India were playing at home against Australia and after suffering a finger injury in the third Test, he hung up his boots. Dhoni, waiting in the wings, took charge. Now, “strain” has brought an end to his Test career and that too mid-tour.

Number-wise, Dhoni is India’s best Test captain ever with 27 wins in 60 matches. But unlike the ODIs or T20s, he never looked quite comfortable in the longer format, especially after the twin whitewashes in England and Australia in 2011-12. Kohli’s performance in ongoing series has made the succession easier.