Former India pacer Javagal Srinath has on Monday (August 31) heaped praise on wonderful and legendary cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, calling the country’s most successful captain 'Yogi' of cricket for his sheer understanding of the game and cool and calm attitude both on and off the field.
Srinath, one of India's finest pacers, said the recently-retired Dhoni has the great ability to stay calm and handle the pressure situations even in the biggest of competitions, as well as, detach himself from the results at the right time and that’s something made him the “Yogi of Cricket”.
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Dhoni has won everything in cricket both as captain and wicketkeeper-batsman with his sheer understanding of the game, and despite this, the legendary cricketer maintains a low-profile and is recognized as one of the most humble celebrities.
Srinath said on R Ashwin’s DRS With Ash show on YouTube: “MS Dhoni is a yogi in cricket. The way he has understood the game, his detachment to results. The way he speaks and conducts himself and on every victory, he holds the cup, the most prized cups, he hands it to someone else and walks away.”
He further added, “When he looks into all these things when things are not going well on the pitch and the team is struggling, his composure and body language as if nothing has happened, he can only be a yogi to be such a wonderful cricketer. The more you disconnected your senses from the game at the right time, the better it is for you. He's a master at that, a lot of respect for the man.”
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Meanwhile, the former pacer also recalled his first meeting with Dhoni way back in 2003 during India A's tour of Kenya, adding: “It has always been a good chat with him every now and then. No incidents as such (as a match referee), but it has always been a query about why it should be this way and that way. My first meeting with Dhoni was in 2003 post my career in Kenya.”
Srinath continued, “There was a triangular series between Kenya, India, and Pakistan; in all the three league games all the way to the finals Dhoni won it single-handedly. At the end of it, the way he disdainfully played the spinners and fast bowlers as if he was playing school cricket.”
He signed off by saying, “I was so thrilled that I ran up to the dressing room and called him out and said, look I'm a big fan of yours, very shortly you should play for India, all the best. He lived up to it and see where he is now, as I said he is an absolute yogi for this game.”
(With CricketNext Inputs)
