Ex-Chief Selector Sandeep Patil Rubbishes Yograj Singh’s Claims: ‘MS Dhoni Never Dropped Yuvraj Singh’
Former Indian cricket team all-rounder Yuvraj Singh’s father, Yograj Singh, has repeatedly blamed former Indian captain MS Dhoni for allegedly ruining his son’s international career. Yograj has claimed in multiple interviews that Dhoni and Yuvraj shared tense relations and that the ex-captain influenced selectors against Yuvraj.
However, former chief selector Sandeep Patil has strongly refuted these allegations, providing clarity on the matter. During a recent discussion on the YouTube channel The Vicky Lalwani Show, Patil stated unequivocally:
“Not once — not during selection meetings, not on tour, not during matches — did Mahendra Singh Dhoni say drop Yuvraj Singh. I am going on the record.”
Patil emphasized that Dhoni had complete confidence in the selection committee and never interfered with decisions regarding Yuvraj’s inclusion or exclusion.
“He had total confidence in the selection committee. He didn’t say anything,” Patil added.
Regarding Yograj Singh’s comments, Patil noted that while a father naturally feels strongly about his son, the blame in this case was misplaced.
“A father feeling strongly about his son is not wrong. But the blame is being placed in the wrong place,” he said.
This revelation comes amid the backdrop of ongoing discussions about Dhoni’s professional conduct. Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Ethics Officer, Justice Arun Mishra (retd), dismissed a complaint against Dhoni alleging a conflict-of-interest violation. The complaint, filed in February 2024, claimed that Dhoni’s ownership of cricket academies through M/s Aarka Sports and Management Private Limited, while being an active IPL player, constituted a conflict under BCCI rules.
Justice Mishra’s detailed order clarified that no evidence suggested that Dhoni exercised institutional control or decision-making authority that could influence IPL operations or selections. The ruling stated:
“Mere continuance as an IPL player, without governance overlap, cannot by itself satisfy the definitional threshold of conflict” under BCCI regulations.
The Ethics Officer also noted that Dhoni’s academy agreement was entered into in 2017, prior to the 2018 amendments of BCCI conflict-of-interest rules. No evidence of favoritism, bias, or preferential treatment was found.
Currently, Dhoni continues to play for the Chennai Super Kings, having led the franchise to five IPL titles. With Sandeep Patil’s clarification, it is now evident that claims of Dhoni sidelining Yuvraj Singh were unfounded, reaffirming the ex-captain’s impartiality and professional integrity during his tenure.
