It’s an irreparable loss to India: JSCA prez

Kolkata:Mahendra Singh Dhoni might have been criticized for his silence over the past few months, but that didn’t stop him from retiring from Tests in silence and leave the world of cricket perplexed and asking a bagful of questions.
Like many former greats, current players and fans, Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) president Amitabh Choudhary was also taken aback when he heard the news of Dhoni’s retirement on Tuesday afternoon.Speaking to TOI over the phone, Choudhary summed up his emotions in a single response: “It’s an irreparable loss to India.”
His contribution to Indian cricket is not unknown to the billions of cricket fans around the world but what people aren’t too aware of is his role in giving Jharkhand a place in the cricketing map and its young cricketers a chance to dream big. In Choudhary’s words: “Dhoni has been a role model for the players of the state and there are many who took up the game because of his success at the international level.”
The JSCA president also feels proud of the fact that Dhoni played for the state for three years before getting a call into the national team. “The fact that he played three years for Jharkhand before breaking into the international arena is also a huge pride for the state,” he said.
Chaudhury now hopes that the wicketkeeper-batsman will spend time with the state team now that he won’t be busy playing Tests. “Now that he has retired from Tests, he can come down to Jharkhand and help, guide and mentor the players. They will surely benefit a lot from his experience.”
But, according to JSCA secretary Rajesh Verma, the 33-year-old has been occasionally doing the same over the past two years. “Playing for the country is always the first priority but he has still found time to come down and talk to the U-19 and Ranji Trophy players on a few occasions,” Verma said over the phone.
Verma also credited Dhoni for inspiring the other players from Jharkhand make it to the Indian side after him. “When the players saw Dhoni lead the India team, they started believing that even they can make it to the national team and represent the country in the future. It was during that time that players like Saurabh Tiwary and Varun Aaron came up and Jharkhand even won the Vijay Hazare Trophy for the first time,” he added.
Although Tiwary failed to cement his place in the national side, Aaron has become a permanent face in the Test team. He played the first two Tests in Australia before he had to return to the country as his grandfather passed away.