IPL 2023: “Rohit Sharma, any day, any time,” Harbhajan says bowling to MI skipper is tougher than MS Dhoni

Rohit has led MI to five IPL titles while Dhoni has captained CSK to four trophies.

By Salman Anjum - 24 Apr, 2023

MS Dhoni is the most consistent skipper in IPL history, having led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to four titles (2010, 2011, 2018 and 2021 editions). Moreover, CSK have reached the finals in nine out of the 15 seasons, all with Dhoni at the helm.

Besides, Dhoni is also one of the most successful batters in the history of IPL, especially in the death overs as a finisher. In 241 IPL games, the CSK skipper has amassed 5039 runs at a strike rate of 135.71 with 24 half-centuries.

In terms of result as a captain, Dhoni’s only competitor is Rohit Sharma as the latter has led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles.

Ex-India spinner Harbhajan Singh, who has played under both captains, recently said that while Dhoni and Rohit were dangerous to bowl to, he always found the MI skipper more difficult to face.

“Rohit Sharma, any day, any time. Very difficult batsman to bowl to. I didn’t bowl a lot against Mahendra Singh Dhoni because by the time he came in to bat my spell was almost over. But no matter how little I’ve bowled, got him dismissed as well, in the last three overs of the game, he was a very dangerous player. But most of my overs were done by that time," said Harbhajan on Star Sports.

“But Rohit Sharma, if we are talking overall, had a very big impact, a class player in terms of batting skill. Dhoni used to be a one of the most dangerous players in the game when he used to come in at the end as a finisher, but if Rohit bats from the beginning to the end, then there is no better player than him,” he added.

While Dhoni is seventh on the list of highest run getters in the IPL history, Rohit is second with 6058 runs in 233 games at a strike rate of 130.22, including one century and 41 fifties.

By Salman Anjum - 24 Apr, 2023

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