Former India skipper MS Dhoni has left a massive impact on the game with his leadership and performances in pressure situations over the years.
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 top of the rankings in the longest format of the game.
Dhoni may have called time on his international career in 2020, but 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 in May this year.
Speaking on the Indian Cricket Podcast, Gujarat Titans pacer Mohit Sharma shared an insightful observation regarding Dhoni's unparalleled impact on emerging talents in India.
According to Sharma, Dhoni's aura has become similar to that of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Notably, Mohit has played under Dhoni’s captaincy at CSK and also for the Indian team.
“The way Mahi bhai's aura has become and what he has achieved in cricket, it has become similar to how we felt about wishing to meet Paaji [Sachin Tendulkar] at least once. It has become like that in the case of Mahi bhai for the younger generation. You see how players go to him after matches just to have that chance of having a conversation with him, no matter what the topic is,” Mohit Sharma stated.
“Mahi bhai carries an aura about himself wherever he goes. It's so good that even if you are present around him, you need not speak too much. The way he logically explains everything, you just feel like listening to it all the time,” he further added.
MS Dhoni is likely to be seen in the 2024 edition of Indian Premier League. After the IPL 2023 triumph, the veteran wicketkeeper said it won’t be easy for him to play one more season but he will try his best to give a gift to his fans.
“Looking for an answer? Circumstantially if you see, this is the best time to announce my retirement. But the amount of love and affection I have been shown wherever I have been this year, the easy thing would be for me to say "Thank you very much", but the tough thing for me is to work hard for another 9 months and come back and play at least 1 more season of IPL. A lot depends on the body, I have 6-7 months to decide. It will be more like a gift from my side, it's not easy for me but that's a gift. The way they've shown their love and affection, I think that's something I need to do for them,” Dhoni had said at the post-match presentation.
