Aakash Chopra dismisses Irfan Pathan’s favoritism claims on MS Dhoni, saying a successful captain can’t be influenced by bias.
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan recently opened up in an interview, recalling his exit from the Indian team during MS Dhoni’s captaincy. Pathan claimed Dhoni once stated in the media during the 2008 Australia tour that he was not bowling well. Pathan, however, believed he had bowled effectively throughout the series and later confronted Dhoni about the remark.
Pathan, who played his final ODI under Dhoni’s leadership and signed off with a memorable five-wicket haul, suggested that such statements may have played a role in how his career unfolded. His claims have reignited the debate on Dhoni’s role in the careers of certain Indian cricketers.
Responding to Pathan's comments, former India opener and cricket commentator Aakash Chopra rejected the perception that Dhoni preferred cricketers from certain regions or backgrounds. In a video on his YouTube channel, posted by Crex, Chopra stated that a captain has only one thing in mind, which is to play the best team out there.
"You would like to choose your best players. But if you have observed a player more in front of you and under pressure, you gravitate towards them, and that's natural," Chopra clarified. "You will notice that players from where the captain or coach are would be picked more. That is not favoritism, not bias. It is simply the fact that they have played with them for more time."
Chopra emphasized that successful captains like Dhoni cannot be influenced by one parameter in selecting their teams. Rather, decisions are made based on overall performance and the capacity to deliver in tight situations.
"Besides that, what goes on in one room, who many sit, how many don't, I don't believe a successful captain worth his salt would be influenced by that factor," Chopra argued. "Ultimately he has to choose a team that can win and players who can get him there. The stakes are too great for a captain to take emotional or biased decisions."
The backlash is not unprecedented. Dhoni has long been accused of favoritism, with Yograj Singh, father of Yuvraj Singh too, openly holding him responsible for Yuvraj's early exit from the national team. But Chopra's views highlight that such accusations can miss the greater context of the pressures and demands of captaincy.
Dhoni, who is India's most successful captain with three ICC awards in his collection, is still being defended by numerous former players and commentators who attribute his capacity to keep his cool in the face of pressure and make difficult calls in the interest of the team.
As Irfan Pathan’s statements continue to spark debate on social media, Aakash Chopra’s rebuttal brings a balancing perspective to the discussion. By emphasizing the complexities of leadership, Chopra argued that Dhoni’s decisions were more about team success than personal biases.
With opinions divided, the debate highlights how legacies of great leaders like Dhoni remain under constant scrutiny, even years after their retirement.
