Former India skipper MS Dhoni has been one of the most calm and composed leaders in the history of the game. He has been phenomenal with his game sense and skills. He has set the bar so high that people still compare his achievements with those of new captains and judge them on the basis of them. After India's trifecta over Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023 finals, former India batter Gautam Gambhir praised Dhoni.
Speaking about MS, Gambhir said that India was blessed to have Dhoni. He also said that Dhoni sacrificed his runs for the betterment of the team. "MS (Dhoni) was the first wicketkeeper in India who could change the game with his batting. Earlier, they were keepers first and batters later, but MS was a batter first and then a wicketkeeper," Gambhir said in a show on Star Sports.
"It was a blessing for Indian cricket that in MS Dhoni, we got a wicketkeeper-batsman who can win you matches from No. 7, because he had that power game," Gambhir further added. It's worth noting that Gambhir has been one of the biggest critics of people who give all credit for India's 2011 World Cup triumph to Dhoni. He has openly called it unnecessary to highlight one six-over team's performance.
He would have broken all ODI records: Gautam Gambhir
Further speaking about MS Dhoni's career as a batter, Gambhir said that if Dhoni had batted at number three, he would have broken all ODI records. He said, "If MS would have batted at No. 3, I am sure he could have broken several ODI records. People always talk about MS Dhoni and his achievements as a captain, which is absolutely true. But I feel that 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."
"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 concluded. It's worth noting that MS Dhoni has been phenomenal throughout his career with both bat and glove. He has scored 10,773 runs in one-day internationals, an average of more than 50. He has scored 10 centuries and 73 half-centuries during his career.
Here is how fans reacted to Gautam Gambhir's comments:
Except for the WC2011 final .. where he came early
— VisionaryVoid (@VisionaryVoid) September 18, 2023
Is it true? What am I hearing? I can’t believe. Gambhir who always gets insecure talking about Dhoni, how on earth he will accept the dhoni’s sacrifice.
— abhinav shukla (@_shukla_abhinav) September 18, 2023
Agar Dhoni 3 ya 4 pe regular batting karta to definitely bahot sari centuries aur bahot saare runs bana sakta tha but team ko jitni success mili thi wo nahi mil pati because msd ne jo kaam as a finisher Kiya he aur koi nahi kar pata
— Hussain (@imhussy92) September 18, 2023
Ji: pic.twitter.com/hcc9IieeI1
— Abhishek Ojha (@vicharabhio) September 18, 2023
Thala Dhoni at his best for team & his legacy ❤️
— Mithran R (@r_mithran) September 18, 2023
Pehli bar koi sahi baat boli he bande ne Dil jeet liya gambhir bhai ne aaj ❤️
— Hussain (@imhussy92) September 18, 2023
Kya se kya ho gye dekhte dekhte @Deep1Cover
— उड़ता परिंदा (@chhotuawara) September 18, 2023
Laut aao Imabzkhan msdian bhai😢😢
— Titu (@TituTweets_) September 18, 2023
Gambhir ne pi rakkhi hogi 😹😳
— Doctor Adani™ (@AdaniHu) September 18, 2023