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Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir recently lauded the selfless nature of MS Dhoni's captaincy, suggesting that Dhoni sacrificed his potential as a top-order batter for the greater good of the team. In a conversation with Star Sports, Gambhir highlighted how Dhoni's batting prowess had the potential to redefine many records, particularly if he had consistently batted at No. 3.
"MS was the first wicketkeeper of India who could change the game with his batting. Earlier, they were keepers first and batters later, but MS was batter first and then was a wicketkeeper. It was a blessing for Indian cricket that in MS Dhoni, we got a wicketkeeper-batter who can win you matches from No 7, because he had that power game," said Gambhir.
Under Dhoni's astute leadership, India scaled significant heights, clinching the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy. Additionally, the team secured victories in the Asia Cup in 2011 and 2016, triumphed in Test series in 2010 and 2011, and took home the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2008, 2010, and 2013. Dhoni's captaincy also witnessed India becoming the top-ranked side in ODIs.
While Dhoni's cricketing achievements are monumental, Gambhir emphasized that his stats could have been even more stellar had he batted higher up the order. With 10,773 runs in 350 ODIs, 4,876 runs in 90 Tests, and 1,617 runs in 98 T20Is, Dhoni's statistics are impressive. But according to Gambhir, Dhoni prioritized team success over personal milestones, showcasing his dedication as a leader.
"If MS would have batted at No 3, I am sure he could have broken several ODI records. People always see MS with the trophies but in my opinion, he sacrificed his international runs for the team's trophies. He started batting at No 6 or 7. If he had not been captain, he would have been India's No 3, and I think he could have scored more than what he has scored and could have scored more hundreds also," Gambhir added.
The leadership saga of Dhoni isn't just restricted to international cricket. He's steered Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to five Indian Premier League (IPL) titles, reinforcing his credentials as one of the game's finest captains. Fresh off CSK's triumph in IPL 2023, Dhoni confirmed his availability for the upcoming season, much to the delight of his fans and franchise.
"People always talk about MS Dhoni and his achievements as a captain, which is absolutely true. But I feel due to captaincy, he sacrificed the batter in him, and he could have achieved much more with his bat which he didn't. And this happens when you are a captain because then you put the team ahead, and you forget about yourself," said Gambhir.
In essence, Gambhir's remarks encapsulate the selfless journey of MS Dhoni, where team achievements always overshadowed personal accolades.
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