MS Dhoni made his India debut in 20024 under Sourav Ganguly's captaincy.
Sourav Ganguly has spoken out on the topic. Ganguly is recognized as one of India's finest captains, having captained the team in the early 2000s and laid the groundwork for future success. But he had a simple response to the question.
When asked to select between himself and MS Dhoni as India's greatest captain, Ganguly said he preferred the latter.
"Mahendra Singh Dhoni. MS Dhoni has won a World Cup, while I have been a runner-up. Dhoni has won the World Cup, and I would say he was an outstanding white-ball captain,” Ganguly said at a TV9 summit.
Ganguly also lauded Dhoni for rising from Jharkhand, a place where few cricketers had previously played for India.
“I feel proud that he came from a small place like Jharkhand. Before him, not many players from there represented the country. To come from there and become such a legend is something to be proud of," Ganguly said.
Ganguly went on to say that Dhoni's ascension would have given confidence and belief to the area's youth, citing 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from Bihar, Jharkhand's adjacent state.
"When someone from a state makes it big at the highest level, it creates an impact, it builds confidence - 'If Mahi can do it, I can do it.' Take Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, for example. Yes, he is from Bihar, but he must have grown up watching Dhoni.
I feel proud because I am from Bengal and he is from Jharkhand. These regions haven't produced as many cricketers as places like Mumbai, Delhi or Bengaluru. That is why I take great pride in MS Dhoni," he added.
Dhoni debuted for India in 2004 under Ganguly's captaincy. He went on to lead India to the T20 World Cup triumph in 2007, ICC World Cup victory in 2011, and the Champions Trophy in 2013.