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As the Indian Premier League (IPL) approaches its 16th anniversary, the anticipation surrounding the ‘All-Time Greatest IPL Team’ has ignited discussions and reflections on the stellar careers of cricketing legends. In a special show hosted by Star Sports, the ‘Incredible 16’ team was unveiled, with an esteemed panel of experts, including Matthew Hayden, Dale Steyn, Wasim Akram and Tom Moody, engaging in spirited discussions.
A unanimous captaincy choice by legends
In the quest to identify the captain of the all time greatest IPL team, the panel unanimously and unequivocally pointed to one name, MS Dhoni. The former Indian skipper, renowned for his astute leadership and unflappable demeanor, emerged as the undisputed choice to lead the ‘Incredible 16’ team.
Dale Steyn’s acclamation
Steyn, the former South African fast bowler, extolled Dhoni as the epitome of leadership excellence. Acknowledging Dhoni’s extensive list of achievements, including IPL titles and World Cup triumphs, Steyn emphasized the profound impact of Dhoni’s leadership both on and off the field.
“It has to be MS Dhoni. He has won everything: World Cup, IPL, ICC Champions Trophy. I think he’s a leader of men, and you’ve got a bunch of men here that are all at the highest level of their game, and they need someone who has been there and done that and can manage them extremely well on and off the field, so I will have to go with MS Dhoni,” Steyn said.
Wasim Akram’s straightforward choice
Cricketing legend Akram left no room for ambiguity when he asserted that selecting the captain for the ‘Incredible 16’ team was not a complex decision. With unwavering certainty, Akram declared Dhoni as the rightful leader, emphasizing the simplicity of the choice.
” You don’t have to ben an ex-cricketer, cricket pundit or a rocket scientist to pick this. It’s MS Dhoni,” Akram said.
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Tom Moody’s praise for adaptability
Moody, former Australia cricketer and coach, underscored Dhoni’s remarkable ability to lead teams of varying calibers to success. Highlighting Dhoni’s adaptability and strategic acumen, Moody commended the Indian stalwart for harnessing the potential of diverse talents.
“It has to be MS Dhoni for me, the reason being MS Dhoni has won the title with very good squads and average squads, and that tells me a lot about the captain and how he can lead a variety of talent in a squad to success. Rohit Sharma has been a brilliant captain for MI but MI have always had the best squads or up there with the best squads in the IPL since its inception,” Moody said.
Matthew Hayden’s perspective
Delving beyond Dhoni’s captaincy prowess, Hayden commended Dhoni’s potential as a coach. The former Australian cricketer highlighted Dhoni’s unique ability to seamlessly straddle roles as both player and manager. According to Hayden, Dhoni’s calming influence and astute leadership style make him an invaluable asset in guiding teams to glory.
“I think it’s an obvious choice, it’s not a debate over here, it’s going to be unanimous amongst the entire Indian community. Of course, Rohit Sharma, the Hitman, is such an incredible leader as well, so it’s a tough choice, but I’m going to be bold and I’m going to pick Dhoni as a Captain and Coach as well. He started in 2008, Shane Warne was captain and coach, and he took the franchise, the double R’s, to a title that year, and I just feel that MS Dhoni can also be a coach,” Hayden said.
Legacy in Indian Premier League (IPL)
Dhoni’s captaincy legacy in the IPL is unparalleled, having led the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to five titles. In 2023, he equaled Rohit Sharma‘s record of most IPL wins as a captain, securing the championship fifth time in a final-ball thriller against the Gujarat Titans (GT).
