Anil Kumble gave MS Dhoni much-needed experience in Tests: Kris Srikkanth

MS Dhoni is arguably one of the best skippers in the history of international cricket. He helped Team India in winning many big tournaments. Surprisingly, he did an impressive job as a captain from the point he was given the charge of the national side across all the formats. And, the former chief selector Kris Srikkanth has revealed that it was a former legendary cricketer, who was responsible for grooming Dhoni as a captain.

The 38-year-old is the only skipper in the history of cricket to win three ICC trophies – T20 World Cup, 50-over World Cup and Champions Trophy. Moreover, under his captaincy, Team India topped the Test cricket rankings for the first time in 2009.

However, there was a legendary Indian cricketer behind the scene due to which Dhoni evolved as a brilliant skipper in the longer format as well. In 2014, after reaping out lots of success in Test format, he handed over the charge to Virat Kohli, who is the current skipper of Team India across all the formats.

Former chief selector reveals how Anil Kumble groomed MS Dhoni

In a recent interview, Srikkanth, the former chief selector said that Dhoni did a brilliant job in the 2007 T20 World Cup. And, it was a big confidence booster for Team India. He also added that MS was very cool and calm when he arrived at the big flight. As per him, the former skipper was a totally different individual when Anil Kumble was leading in the Test format.

“When Dhoni was the captain in the 2007 T20 World Cup, he handled the side really well, the win boosted his confidence. He has always been calm and cool, he has motivated the players, aggressive culture was brought in by Sourav Ganguly, MS was totally opposite of that, when Kumble was the captain of the Test side, it was a good chance for Dhoni to learn,” Kris Srikkanth said as quoted by Outlook India.

In the end, he recited that it was Anil Kumble, who groomed him as a good captain in the longer format of the game by giving nd sharing a much-needed experience with him, “Anil gave him much-needed experience, Dhoni gave a lot of confidence to the players,” he added.