Indian habit of stretching the careers without thinking about their legacies

[ftbno1]

I got interested in watching cricket in 1996 when my uncle used to say that Kapil Dev was a great bowler who spoiled his career for chasing Richard headlee record.
Moving Forward 15 years, What a wonderful farewell it would have been for SRT if he retired after WC final on his home ground when he was at peak of his game(2nd highest run scorer in the tournament).
Had Dravid retired an year earlier he would have had a career test average almost touching 60.
One of the greatest test cricket opening batsmen Virender Sehwag had to retire unceremoniously after remaining dropped for more than a year.
I believe same will be the fate of our heroes like Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan and Gambhir.
And now we are seeing another living legend MSD mercilessly spoiling his legacy by continuing to play international cricket for no rhyme or reason. In fact his doggedness to continue playing looks specifically more selfish as unlike in previous cases their is no dearth in talent pool and he is blocking place for Pants,Samson etc.
On a separate note WC 2019 is upon us Indian selectors must try following players in ODIs before it:
1. Sarfaraz Khan(will be next Yuvi who wins you matches in lower order)
2. Shubnam Gill
3. Khalil Ahmed(Fastest bowler in indian domestic circuit and a left armer)
4. Kamlesh Nagarkoti(an option if Pandya fails)
If india botches this time it will be really sad because it will not be due to lack of ability

[Slog]

You are correct generally in regards to subcontinental players stretching their careers and damaging their legacies

But Dhoni has been performing

In 2017 he averaged over 60 in 29 matches and this year he is averaging 56 (though cant read much into it due to small sample of matches and not enough time spent at the crease)

Ofcourse there maybe caveats to the performances and stats may be flattering but certainly cannot be dropped based on these

[Joseph Gomes]

I hate how Dhoni is batting nowadays, but the rest of the middle order aren't doing much better than him. So there's no replacement for Dhoni. He's still the best wicketkeeper for India

[Proactive_]

It's because of the superstar culture prevalent in the country and just the sheer amount of money associated with the brand name of the said "superstars". BCCI being the shameless money scrounging organization that it is.. won't dare to touch these individuals in any circumstance irrespective of their performances.

In any other country, the likes of Tendulkar would have been kicked out of the team years before that joke of a home series against WI happened which was only taking place because Tendulkar could retire in front of his home completing that pointless landmark of 200 Tests. Classic case of putting individuals above the game, but that's how it is. See the same being repeated with the likes of Dhoni and Kohli in the future as well..

[ftbno1]

I hate how Dhoni is batting nowadays, but the rest of the middle order aren't doing much better than him. So there's no replacement for Dhoni. He's still the best wicketkeeper for India

New cricketers are not given proper go. Instead selectors are selecting oldies like Dinesh Karthik and Jadhav. Mark my words Shubman gill,Pant will have same fate like Unmukt Chand if not given proper go.
Select player according to format. Give Prithvi Shaw debut in testatches before trying him in LOI.
I am excited about our talent pool but worried about selection policy.look at no. of very good players untried not counting U19
Krunal Pandya
Washington Sundar
Teotia
Pankaj Singh
Armaan Jaffer

[pakistani pride]

This is very normal in Asia.
Sad but thats how it goes.

[AMSS]

It's because of the superstar culture prevalent in the country and just the sheer amount of money associated with the brand name of the said "superstars". BCCI being the shameless money scrounging organization that it is.. won't dare to touch these individuals in any circumstance irrespective of their performances.

In any other country, the likes of Tendulkar would have been kicked out of the team years before that joke of a home series against WI happened which was only taking place because Tendulkar could retire in front of his home completing that pointless landmark of 200 Tests. Classic case of putting individuals above the game, but that's how it is. See the same being repeated with the likes of Dhoni and Kohli in the future as well..

Individuals make the game, not vice versa. People first.

[Convict]

Only Indian?

[Thomaskutty]

Is it a subcontinent players thing though ? I remember Ponting stretched his career after 2010 in the guise of wanting to 'help out the younger players'.
It is more of a selectors issue .. they seem less ruthless in asian countries and refuse to drop star players.

[Arham_PakFan]

Examples of players stretching their career can be found in every country.But it is most common in the subcontinent

[Ab Fan]

SC players do it the most.

[DeadBall]

Legacies are a thing of the past when past their prime players didn't have the "motivation" of money, fame etc. Why would someone stop voluntarily playing now when they could be earning millions instead?

[introvert]

it is not just limited to india.It's a subcontinent superstar culture that leads to situations like this when a player becomes bigger than team.
Pakistan sticked with afridi far too long,now india doing same with dhoni.

[Savak]

This is a Pakistani problem too btw

[leatherface58]

Indians retire too late. Pakistanis don't retire at all. It's an Indo-Pakistani thing.

[Bilal7]

This is a Pakistani problem too btw

Not really. Imran had a perfect retirement, Wasim and Waqar retired when they were just starting to be ineffective, ditto with Inzamam and Saqlain. Yousuf was actually dropped before his time was up and Akhtar would have retired if Pakistan did not need him.

Lesser players prolonging their careers is understandable since they always have more to prove.

[The_Odd_One]

Not really. Imran had a perfect retirement, Wasim and Waqar retired when they were just starting to be ineffective, ditto with Inzamam and Saqlain. Yousuf was actually dropped before his time was up and Akhtar would have retired if Pakistan did not need him.

Lesser players prolonging their careers is understandable since they always have more to prove.

Add Saeed Anwar too.

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Sri Lankans know when to retire.