While the world was left amazed with MS Dhoni's power-hitting abilities at the start of his career for India, former coach Greg Chappell says he saw a player more capable than just of end-overs flourish, someone of greater dependability, the man whom the team's middle-order could revolve around in the future. 

Chappell, who took over as India's head coach in 2005, less than a year after Dhoni's India debut, said he and the then captain Rahul Dravid knew very early they have a horse for the long haul at their disposal. 

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"What was in no doubt was that he was going to be a dangerous proposition in the death overs. No one wanted to bowl to him in the late overs. But I saw more potential than a brute in the dying overs," wrote Chappell for Mumbai Mirror. 

"I could see that his decision-making and his reading of a game could make him one of the most dangerous finishers in the game; if he was prepared to get himself fit and use his great speed between the wickets to put pressure on fielding teams, he could be even more dangerous." 

"As Rahul Dravid and I began to reshape the way India played one-day cricket we could see that Dhoni was going to be a key component in becoming one of the most dangerous teams either setting or chasing a target. Paired with Yuvraj Singh in the middle overs, Dhoni began to explore his range," he added. 

Chappell recalled an ODI against Sri Lanka to explain how he got Dhoni to think more of himself than people outside at the time did. Dravid and he got Dhoni to unlock his true potential and become the player he had in him. 

Many young players with the capacity to hit the ball big fall by the wayside as the international game tests their full resolve and they fail to respond accordingly. Dhoni realised this very early and developed himself into a more robust cricketer with time, one who could last the distance, be flexible, adapt to situations and opposition attacks. Mixing aggression with caution, Dhoni built his legacy. 

"Following a particularly brutal innings of 183 against Sri Lanka in Jaipur in late 2005, I sat down with MS and talked to him about the fact that he had a decision to make," said Chappell. "He could keep playing the big shots by aiming for the stands every ball and win India the occasional game with brute force or he could use his immense tactical ability and speed to become someone who could make India virtually unbeatable."

"He didn’t seem convinced initially, but in the next game against Sri Lanka in Pune, Dravid won the toss and elected to bowl first so an opportunity presented itself. Sri Lanka compiled a total of 261 which wasn’t a huge target, but after losing two early wickets, first Sehwag then Dravid and Venugopal Rao steadied the ship."

"As Dhoni sat waiting, I set him a challenge. I said we all knew that he could hit the ball over the boundary, but, if he wanted to become the player that he could be, then he had to show us that he could score the runs by hitting the ball along the ground and running hard. He had to get as big a thrill out of leading India to victory regularly with minimal risk if he was to become the champion that he promised," he added. 

"The challenge that I set him was to show that he could ensure our victory without hitting a six. He looked at me sceptically and shrugged his shoulders. I wasn’t sure whether he had accepted the challenge or not. Slowly but surely, first with Dravid and then with Suresh Raina, Dhoni began to knock the ball around and run hard. He and Raina steadily whittled away the target."

"As the Sri Lankan target crept closer, Dhoni called for a change of batting gloves. Our 12th man, RP Singh, ran out with the gloves and came back to me and said that Dhoni wanted to know if he could hit a six now. I told RP to go back and tell him no, not until we have got the game won." 

"When the score reached 256 and Russel Arnold bowling, Dhoni hit Arnold straight back over his head and over the players pavilion for a huge six to finish the game. Dhoni ran off, swinging his bat like a windmill with a broad grin on his face. As he came into the player area he ran past me and said, ‘is that alright coach?’ All I could do was chuckle to myself and nod my head," Chappell reminisced.