MS Dhoni’s achievement as a cricketer is surreal, to say the least. In particular, he has etched his name in the history books as one of the finest captains ever.
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Dhoni is the only skipper in the world to have won all three ICC trophies – 2007 World T20, 2011 Cricket World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy. The veteran wicketkeeper has also led India to the pinnacle in Test cricket while he has captained Chennai Super Kings to three IPL titles and two Champions League trophies.
While cricket fans and pundits are aware of his shrewd cricketing brain, veteran India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh recently narrated an incident highlighting Dhoni’s calmness as captain.
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo’s The Cricket Monthly, Harbhajan was asked to share his experiences of playing under Dhoni.
“He is not a captain who says, do this, do that. He wants you to do what you know you can do. Bowl what you know you can. If you can bowl six offspinners, do that,” the 39-year-old said.
“Yes, he has nudged me at times - from behind the stumps or at change of overs - saying, this guy is trying to do this or will try this. But he never tells me what to do,” he added.
Harbhajan then went on to recall a match in which Shardul Thakur was getting smashed and he tried suggesting Dhoni to ask the fast bowler to make a couple of changes.
“Once Shardul Thakur was bowling in Pune. He was getting hit every ball. First ball four, second ball six. I went to Dhoni and told him, “Why don’t you tell him [Thakur] to change the angle or push a fielder back?”,” Harbhajan reminisced.
“As if he had all the time in the world, Dhoni said to me, “Bhajju pa, if I tell him anything now, he will get confused. Khaane do.” [Let him get hit.]He knew we could afford to get hit because we had already qualified for the playoffs.
“He [Dhoni] said, “When he [Thakur] feels there is no option left, then I can tell him he could try doing this.” So Dhoni will not tell you until you realise you are short of ideas,” the Turbanator further remarked.
