In terms of tactical acumen, MS Dhoni is widely regarded as one of the best in the business. He has left a massive impact on the game with his leadership.
Dhoni is the only skipper in the history of cricket to have won all three ICC white-ball trophies – 2007 World T20, 2011 Cricket World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy. He also led India to the pinnacle in Test cricket.
While Dhoni called time on his international career in 2020, he continues to feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The 42-year-old captained CSK to a record-equalling fifth IPL title earlier this year.
Recently, India wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal narrated how Dhoni’s instructions helped him attack the opposition right from the word go while also adding that he blindly trusted the former India wicketkeeper and mostly followed his advice.
“I blindly trusted him. If he used to tell me something, I used to follow it. Ninety-five per cent, I used to follow what he said and five per cent, I used to tell him about my side. When we used to come on to bowl, it was after the 10th over, he used to know what is happening on the wicket and how the surface is going to play,” Chahal said in a recent conversation with YouTuber Ranveer Allahabadia.
“I got a wicket in that over or the next one. That blind trust is very important. I am also his fan. He made 50 per cent of my life as a bowler easier. Otherwise, you come in and send down a couple of overs judging the pace of the wicket. He used to tell us in advance and we used to start attacking from the first over. It was like Mahi bhai ne bol diya to bol diya,” he added.
Chahal, who has played 72 ODIs and 75 T20Is for India so far, further said that Dhoni is the only person he finds himself tongue-tied in front of.
“He is the only person, unke saamne aate hai meri bolti bandh ho jaati hai (I am tongue-tied in front of him). I don’t speak a lot irrespective of the kind of mood I am in. I just sit still and reply only if Mahi bhai asks something. Otherwise, I just keep quiet,” he remarked.
