Dhoni continues to play in the IPL, where he remains a fan favorite and his leadership, cricketing acumen, and contributions to Indian cricket have earned him a legendary status in the sport.
Dhoni has been responsible for grooming a lot of current cricketers in the Indian team, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Shikhar Dhawan.
Dhoni was known for giving young and emerging players opportunities and backing them during tough times and played a significant role in shaping the careers of several Indian cricketers. His belief in players’ abilities and his patience with them allowed many to flourish under his leadership.
As MS Dhoni completes four years of retirement from international cricket, Star Sports shared a video from 2021 on their official X handle where current Indian captain Rohit Sharma talks about the role Dhoni played in shaping his career.
Rohit became the second Indian captain after Dhoni to win the T20 World Cup title when India ended their ICC Trophy drought in the West Indies in June earlier this year.
In the video that was filmed during T20 World Cup 2021, Rohit says, “I made my World Cup debut under him (Dhoni), which was 2007 and since then we’ve had a very long journey, played a lot of cricket together. His ability to just be with the youngster and encourage him, no matter what the situation of the game is, no matter what the performance of a player is, he just tries to make sure that there is enough composure around that player, the player doesn’t feel insecure, and that I think is a very very important thing when the player just comes into the team. And even for a player who has played a lot of games, for him also, he might go through a bad patch, you need someone to just come around you and just pat your back and say ‘hey nothing to worry about, you’ve got all the ability, talent and everything, just need to go out there and enjoy.’ You need that kind of backing and support from your captain and that is what we all got when he was captain.”
Dhoni’s deep understanding of the game and his ability to read match situations made him a master strategist. His field placements, bowling changes, and match tactics often caught the opposition off guard. His calmness allowed him to think a few steps ahead, planning for various scenarios in a match.
Dhoni’s captaincy has left a lasting impact on Indian cricket. He transformed the Indian team into a confident and formidable unit, both at home and abroad. His leadership style has influenced a generation of cricketers, and he remains a role model for captains around the world.
One of India’s most successful cricket captains, MS Dhoni, often referred to as “Captain Cool,” led India to victories in all three major ICC tournaments: the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup, the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. His leadership was characterized by a calm and composed approach, sharp decision-making, and an ability to stay cool under pressure.
MS Dhoni’s captaincy is characterized by calmness, instinct, strategic acumen, and a deep understanding of the game. His ability to manage pressure, take bold decisions, and back his players earned him immense respect from his peers and fans alike. Dhoni’s success in international cricket and the IPL has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest captains in the history of the sport.