“He has been an exceptional figure for the team and ensured the dressing room’s atmosphere never changed”

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Former India batsman VVS Laxman has announced that Mahendra Singh Dhoni “will always be remembered as being a captain who led with authority”.

Laxman also described Dhoni as a match-winner, but added that he has to clarify why he decided to retire from Test cricket midway through the ongoing series against Australia.

“He will always be remembered as being a captain who led with authority and for being a match-winner,” Laxman said. “I am surprised at his decision (to retire) but one needs to respect him for it. It is his personal call.

“When I retired (in 2012), there was a lot of needless speculation. Fans would also want to know what made Dhoni choose to retire from Tests. More clarification is definitely needed.”

However, Laxman also pointed out that Dhoni has had a tremendous impact on Indian cricket.

“He has been an exceptional figure for the team and ensured the dressing room’s atmosphere never changed,” he said. “If India failed in overseas Tests, it was because the team failed collectively and was not really Dhoni’s fault. A captain is only as good as his team.”