Why Aakash Chopra Believes MS Dhoni Won’t Become India’s Head Coach
Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has shared his thoughts on why legendary captain MS Dhoni is unlikely to take up the role of head coach of the Indian cricket team in the future — despite having briefly mentored the side during the 2021 T20 World Cup.
According to Chopra, the main reason lies in the intense workload and time commitment that comes with the Indian head coach’s job. While Dhoni has shown interest in mentorship roles on a short-term basis, a full-time coaching role is an entirely different challenge.
Chopra explained that being head coach is “as busy, if not more demanding than being a cricketer,” involving almost 10 months of travel and work every year. Having already spent over a decade living out of a suitcase amid the pressures of captaincy, Dhoni may not want to repeat that lifestyle, especially when it comes at the cost of family time and personal peace.
He also pointed out that this is why many former cricketers prefer shorter coaching stints, like those in the IPL, rather than taking up full-time roles with the national team. Given Dhoni’s calm nature and preference for a more relaxed life post-retirement, Chopra feels it is highly unlikely that he would want to take on the stressful and time-consuming responsibilities that come with being India’s head coach.
Aakash Chopra Questions Kuldeep Yadav’s Test Snub
Chopra went on to strongly question the treatment meted out to Kuldeep Yadav in India’s Test setup. He said that any true follower of Indian cricket would empathise with the left-arm wrist-spinner, given the way his red-ball career has stalled despite showing tremendous potential.
Recalling Kuldeep’s memorable six-wicket haul against Australia in Sydney back in 2019, Chopra highlighted how then-head coach Ravi Shastri had publicly called Kuldeep India’s No. 1 overseas spinner after that performance. Yet, shockingly, Kuldeep has featured in just one overseas Test match since then.
Expressing his disappointment, Chopra said he was “surprised, frustrated and saddened” to see Kuldeep continue to warm the bench despite being in multiple squads. He added that if this trend continues, Kuldeep might “grow old without getting enough matches” — a situation which reflects poorly on how India have managed one of their most unique spin-bowling talents.
Chopra reminded fans that Kuldeep’s last major mark in Test cricket came back in 2019 at Sydney, where he picked up a brilliant six-wicket haul against Australia. Impressed by that performance, then-head coach Ravi Shastri even called him India’s “No.1 overseas spinner”. However, since then, Kuldeep has bizarrely played just one Test away from home.
Expressing his frustration, Chopra said that any real follower of Indian cricket would feel for Kuldeep, who hasn’t been given a proper run in the longest format for almost eight years. He warned that at this rate, the talented spinner might “grow old waiting for opportunities”, especially after once again being ignored throughout the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England, where many experts felt he deserved a place in the playing XI.
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