Former India batsman MS Dhoni had shown signs of fearlessness very early in his career. The wicket-keeper-batsman has the distinction of slamming both his maiden ODI and the Test century against arch-rivals Pakistan.

Former England cricketer Monty Panesar recalled the innings against Pakistan at Faisalabad Test in 2006. He scored 148 off 153 deliveries with 19 fours and 4 sixes.

Dhoni took on Shoaib Akhtar and gave answers to his bouncers without any fear. Akhtar was consistently bowling over 145 kph but it wasn't a problem for him. He kept smashing him for fours and sixes and a frustrated Akhtar even ended up bowling a beamer.

“My favorite moment with Dhoni was in Mumbai when I missed his catch. It landed 10 meters on my right, went through the sun and I completely misjudged it. And then two balls later, I caught him. So, that’s cricket for you. One minute you’re zero, next minute you are a hero. He (Dhoni) will always be a hero for the nation,” Panesar was quoted as saying by Times of India.

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“I think (when) Dhoni came into (the) reckoning was actually his hundred against Pakistan, when he was pulling Shoaib Akhtar for fours and sixes. We all were sitting and wondering - ‘Oh, how is he doing that?’”, the former England spinner added.

Monty also lauded Dhoni's ability to take on any bowler and hit them for a six. “And then I remember bowling to him in Kolkata where he hit me for a six out of nowhere. It just went miles. Dhoni’s six-hitting ability is almost 20 meters further than the normal batsman,” said Panesar.

“I think I always found MSD very calm, collected and he always seemed like life was going at a slow pace for him. It was like nothing was bothering him. It was his calm demeanor that was his strength. Not a lot of cricketers have this quality, but he had it throughout his whole career. I think that’s what makes him such a great, great leader,” he added.