(IPL Credit)
MS Dhoni is celebrated as one of cricket’s greatest players, with an impressive array of records as a captain, player, and wicketkeeper. He shares the distinction of being the most successful IPL captain with Rohit Sharma, each having won five IPL titles.
Shardul Thakur, Dhoni’s teammate at Chennai Super Kings (CSK), recently shared insights into Dhoni’s valuable guidance. Thakur noted that Dhoni never spoon-fed junior players but encouraged them to devise their own strategies.
Thakur also reflected on Dhoni’s remarkable legacy. Under his leadership, India secured three major ICC trophies: the T20 World Cup in 2007, the ODI World Cup in 2011, and the Champions Trophy in 2013, cementing Dhoni’s status as one of the greatest international captains in cricket history.
At an event hosted by IISM, Shardul Thakur reflected on his time playing alongside MS Dhoni. Thakur shared that Dhoni encouraged players to develop their own game plans rather than providing direct instructions. Although Dhoni refrained from spoon-feeding strategies, he was always available to support young players if their plans didn’t succeed.
“Playing with him has always been special because he allows us to grow. He allows us to come up with our own plan. So he will never spoon-feed us. He will say, ‘Tomorrow I might not be available behind the wickets. What will you do? Go back to your room, think about your game, and come up with your plans, if it doesn’t work then I will intervene,” Shardul Thakur said.
Discussing MS Dhoni’s legacy, Shardul Thakur highlighted that, beyond clinching three ICC trophies, Dhoni played a pivotal role in nurturing contemporary legends like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Thakur noted that Dhoni consistently supported both players, which was instrumental in helping them secure their positions in the Indian team.
“The legacy that he has left behind, three ICC Trophies, grooming so many youngsters. Even the current greats I would say, Virat, and Rohit, everyone in their life had a time where they could have been dropped. But the great MS Dhoni backed them and what they did after 2012 onwards up until now,” Thakur added.
MS Dhoni is still an active cricketer
Despite retiring from international cricket, MS Dhoni continues to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Under his captaincy, CSK claimed their record fifth IPL title in 2023. However, Dhoni chose to step down from the captaincy before the 2024 season, passing the reins to Ruturaj Gaikwad.
This transition did not yield the desired results, as CSK finished fifth in the points table, narrowly missing out on the playoffs due to a lower net run rate compared to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The team’s performance was further impacted by several injury concerns, contributing to their failure to reach the playoffs for only the third time in their history.
Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur, who is currently not part of the Indian team, faces uncertainty regarding his future with CSK. It remains to be seen if he will be retained in the upcoming mega-auction.
MS Dhoni’s legacy in IPL
Since the inaugural IPL season in 2008, MS Dhoni has led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with distinction. In their debut year, he guided CSK to the final, and under his leadership, they secured their first IPL title in 2010. The team successfully defended their title the following year in 2011.
Beyond his captaincy, MS Dhoni is celebrated as one of the greatest finishers in cricket history. He has amassed 10,773 runs in ODIs at an impressive average of 50.57, a remarkable achievement given his role as a lower-order batsman.
