Former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of the most illustrious gems in the rich history of world cricket. His exceptional skills mark his enduring legacy as a player and his unrivalled leadership qualities. Even in the most daunting moments of the game, his cool and composed demeanour has rightfully earned him the revered moniker of “Captain Cool.”
His remarkable leadership skills have left an indelible mark on Indian cricket, fundamentally reshaping its trajectory and establishing a robust foundation for years.
Many cricket experts often hail Dhoni as one of the premier finishers in limited-overs cricket. However, it’s noteworthy that the 42-year-old cricketer embarked on his career primarily as a top-order batsman, particularly in the 50-over format of the game.
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He sacrificed his international runs for the team’s trophies: Gambhir on Dhoni
Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has lauded Dhoni, acknowledging that he selflessly sacrificed his batting position to secure ICC trophies for India. The left-handed batter also pointed out that had Dhoni persisted in batting in the top order, he might have amassed numerous individual records in addition to his team achievements.
“If MS would have batted at No 3, I am sure he could have broken several ODI records. People always see MS with the trophies but in my opinion, he sacrificed his international runs for the team’s trophies. He started batting at No 6 or 7. If he had not been captain, he would have been India’s No 3, and I think he could have scored more than what he has scored and could have scored more hundreds also,” Gambhir said on Star Sports.
Gambhir underscored that Dhoni was a groundbreaking figure in Indian cricket, being the first wicketkeeper who excelled as a batter before anything else. The former left-handed opener also attributed Dhoni’s exceptional talent to individually turning the game’s fortunes.
“MS was the first wicketkeeper of India who could change the game with his batting. Earlier, they were keepers first and batters later, but MS was batter first and then was a wicketkeeper. It was a blessing for Indian cricket that in MS Dhoni, we got a wicketkeeper-batter who can win you matches from No 7, because he had that power game” the cricketer-turned-politician added.
