MS Dhoni, the recently retired India wicketkeeper, was on the verge of being removed as ODI captain after being whitewashed in Test series in England and Australia in 2011/12, according to former BCCI president N Srinivasan.

Speaking to The Indian Express a day after Dhoni announced his international retirement, Srinivasan revealed that the selection committee had decided to axe Dhoni as ODI skipper without naming his replacement, before Srinivasan intervened, exercising his say as the president.

“This was 2011. India had won the World Cup,” Srinivasan said. “And [then] in Australia, we didn’t do well in the Tests. So, one of the selectors wanted to remove him [Dhoni] as the ODI captain. The point is, how do you remove him as the ODI captain? He had won the World Cup [a few months ago]. They [selectors] had not even thought of who would be his replacement.”

After leading India to their second 50-over World Cup title, Dhoni endured a tough phase as captain in Tests as India hurtled to a 4-0 whitewashes in England. India lost their hold on the No.1 spot in the ICC rankings, and things compounded when they were trounced at the hands of Australia later in 2011, during which, Srinivasan revealed, the selectors wanted Dhoni removed.

“There was a discussion and then I said there was no way in which he would not be a player. In fact, it was a holiday. I was playing golf. I came back. Sanjay Jagdale was the (BCCI) secretary at that time and he said, ‘Sir, they (selectors) are refusing to choose the captain. They will take him (Dhoni) in the team’. I came and said MS Dhoni (would be the captain). I exercised all my authority as the (BCCI) president.”

Dhoni went on to lead the side to the 2013 Champions Trophy title, becoming the first captain to win all three major ICC tournaments, and continued to be the side’s limited-overs skipper until 2017.

“See, there was apparently some prejudice somewhere, which reflected,” Srinivasan said. “He has won the World Cup for you. After 1983, India won it again and you say, ‘I don’t want him to be the ODI captain’. Left to them selectors, they might have dropped him as a player. I don’t know. I think that was the most unfair [move] and I am glad that I stood my ground.”