(Source X)
Shardul Thakur, the all-rounder for Team India and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), recently weighed in on who he believes is the superior captain between the legendary MS Dhoni and current Indian skipper Rohit Sharma. In a playful comment about Rohit Sharma, Thakur noted that while Sharma is a friend, his choice was made with careful consideration.
MS Dhoni is celebrated as one of India’s most successful captains in white-ball cricket. Under his leadership, India claimed victories in the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy. Additionally, Dhoni guided the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to five IPL titles.
On the other hand, Rohit Sharma has also enjoyed considerable success as a captain, leading the Mumbai Indians (MI) to five IPL titles. Sharma’s accomplishments include steering India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, making him the third Indian captain, after Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni, to secure an ICC World Cup trophy.
Shardul Thakur Chooses Between MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma: Which Captain Stands Out?
Shardul Thakur, who has had the experience of playing under both MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, was recently asked to choose between the two captains. He opted for Dhoni, with a humorous note that Rohit would likely understand his choice. Thakur even joked that he might need to smooth things over with Rohit if he felt hurt by the decision.
“Rohit is my friend first, so I would say MSD. He (Rohit) will understand even if he feels angry, I would go and butter him and say, Rohit, no problem! When this video goes to him, he will be like typical Rohit Sharma with me on the phone,” said Shardul Thakur during an event at IISM.
Neither MS Dhoni nor Rohit Sharma currently holds captaincy roles for their IPL teams. Rohit Sharma, after leading India to victory in the T20 World Cup 2024, has retired from T20I cricket but remains the captain for Tests and ODIs. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja have also stepped away from T20I cricket.
MS Dhoni To Play For Chennai Super Kings In IPL 2025?
MS Dhoni has yet to announce his plans for IPL 2025. After leading the Chennai Super Kings to their fifth IPL title in 2023, Dhoni stepped down from the captaincy before the IPL 2024 season, passing the baton to Ruturaj Gaikwad. Despite not being the captain, Dhoni played every match as a player in the 2024 T20 tournament.
During the season, Dhoni displayed flashes of his former brilliance with some crucial innings and maintained an impressive strike rate of 220.55. However, under Gaikwad’s leadership, the Chennai Super Kings missed the playoffs. Additionally, Dhoni dealt with a troublesome knee injury throughout the season.
Dhoni’s participation in IPL 2025 remains unclear. He has indicated that he will make a decision about his future after examining the rules for the upcoming mega auction and retention policies. There are also reports that the Chennai Super Kings have sought permission to retain Dhoni as an uncapped player, akin to the regulations that were in place until 2021.
