Former India cricketer Yograj Singh has often expressed his anger towards MS Dhoni, blaming the former India captain for dropping his son Yuvraj Singh. Over the years, Yograj has repeatedly said that what happened to Yuvraj during that period can never be forgiven.
However, former BCCI chief selector Sandeep Patil has now shared a very different version of events.
‘Dhoni Never Asked Us to Drop Yuvraj’
Speaking on The Vicky Lalwani Show on YouTube, Patil strongly rejected the claims that Dhoni had any role in dropping Yuvraj from the Indian team. As reported by The Indian Express, Patil made it clear that Dhoni never asked the selectors to remove Yuvraj from the squad.
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“Not even once, during selection meetings, on tours, or during matches, did Mahendra Singh Dhoni tell us to drop Yuvraj Singh. I’m saying this clearly on record,” Patil said.
He also added that Dhoni fully trusted the selectors and never interfered in their decisions.
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“Dhoni had complete faith in the selection committee. He never tried to influence our decisions,” Patil explained.
Patil also spoke about the criticism that has been directed at Dhoni over the years. While he understood Yograj’s emotions as a father, he believes the blame has been placed in the wrong place.
“A father naturally feels strongly about his son. That’s understandable. But in this case, the blame is being directed at the wrong person,” Patil said.
Yograj Singh’s Strong Words
Yograj Singh has been very vocal about the issue in several interviews. In a recent appearance on the Switch YouTube channel, he once again criticised Dhoni.
“I will never forgive MS Dhoni. He should look at himself in the mirror,” Yograj said.
He also acknowledged Dhoni’s achievements but insisted that what happened with his son cannot be forgotten.
“He is a great cricketer and I respect that. But what he did to my son is unforgivable,” he added.
Yograj believes Yuvraj could have played for many more years if things had gone differently.
“That man ended my son’s career. Yuvraj could have played four or five more years for India. I challenge anyone to have a son like Yuvraj,” Yograj said.
He also mentioned that former players like Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag have often praised Yuvraj and said players like him are rare.
Yuvraj Singh’s Legacy
Yuvraj Singh remains one of India’s most memorable match-winners. He played a key role in India’s triumph in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup.
During the 2011 tournament, Yuvraj delivered one of the greatest all-round performances in World Cup history and was named Player of the Series. What made it even more remarkable was that he was secretly battling a cancerous tumour in his lungs at the time. He later underwent treatment and made a courageous comeback to international cricket.
For Sandeep Patil, the matter is clear, the decisions about team selection were made by the selection committee, not by Dhoni. While Yograj’s feelings as a father remain strong, Patil has now publicly stated his side of the story, which challenges the narrative that has circulated for years.