Maintaining composure in toughest of moments is MS Dhoni’s biggest skill: Virat Kohli
"He’s always calm, composed, and he allows himself to get into that mental space, where he can take the most important calls. There’s so much to learn from him," Kohli said.
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Star India batter Virat Kohli reflected on the calming presence and enduring leadership of MS Dhoni during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Kohli reckoned that one of Dhoni’s biggest gifts is his ability to remain calm even in the tensest situations, as it paves way for quality decision-making.
“His greatest skill is just maintaining his composure in the toughest of moments. That’s why he is so good, because he’s able to make the right decisions under pressure. He’s always calm, composed, and he allows himself to get into that mental space, where he can take the most important calls. There’s so much to learn from him. When I walked into the Indian team, he was my captain—and he’s always going to be my captain,” Kohli said on JioHotstar’s ‘7 Shades of MS Dhoni’.
India batter Rohit Sharma recalled Dhoni’s presence in the dressing room during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, when Dhoni officially mentored the Indian team. Rohit spoke highly of Dhoni’s methods and his calm leadership that made players feel secure under his leadership.
“From my own perspective, in 2007, I actually made my World Cup debut under him. Since then, we had a very long journey and played a lot of cricket together. His ability to connect with youngsters and encourage them, no matter the situation of the game or the player’s performance, is something truly special. He always tries to create a calm atmosphere around a player, so they don’t feel insecure. I believe it’s an extremely important quality.”
England’s former white-ball captain Jos Buttler lavished praise on Dhoni during the World Cup in 2019. Buttler went onto say that he idolised Dhoni while growing up, adding that he is a “huge MS Dhoni fan”.
“As a fellow wicketkeeper, he’s been an idol of mine growing up—Mr. Cool. I have always loved his persona on the field; he looks so calm and in control when he bats. He has got lightning-fast hands behind the stumps, and he loves to take the game deep. His unique style makes him a great ambassador for the game. I’m a huge MS Dhoni fan.”
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Commentator and analyst Aakash Chopra praised Dhoni’s captaincy, lauding the former skipper for granting complete freedom and backing the players to the hilt.
“He developed a very unique leadership style. If you look at the seven recognised styles of leadership—his would be, what you would call, ‘leadership from behind.’ Usually, you see captains leading from the front or by example. But, Dhoni was different. He would say, ‘You all go ahead, do your job, play your game.’ He empowered his players with full freedom. If things didn’t go according to plan, he was always there to take responsibility. That kind of trust and backing made all the difference.”
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar also spoke about Dhoni’s impact as captain, stating that no other cricketer comes close to the kind of impact he made on Indian cricket.
“Mahendra Singh Dhoni has made a massive impact on Indian cricket. With due respect to all the legends, I don’t think anyone has made a greater impact than Dhoni. What you saw with Indian cricket under Dhoni’s leadership was calmness on the big stage. When the opposition captain came to the toss—and I’ve been part of a few tosses myself—you could see Dhoni was much calmer than the opposition captain, even on the biggest stages. That was exactly what India needed. India always had the skills and the desire to win, but they didn’t know how to cross the finishing line. Dhoni led by example, and that is his greatest contribution.”
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Former Australia cricketer Matthew Hayden shared his insights on Dhoni’s leadership, labelling him a “natural leader”.
“He was a natural leader. It takes about one-and-a-half minute, without any words, to realise who a natural leader is. And that’s MS Dhoni. He commands respect in any dressing room naturally because he is a very likable, unselfish, caring, and empathetic individual. He is also funny and remarkably calm. These are great qualities, especially under pressure. Imagine performing with 1.4 to 1.6 billion people wanting you to win a World Cup. That requires immense and sustained mental strength, and he has done it.”
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