If you don't have good resources, it doesn't matter whether the captain is Waugh, Ponting or Lloyd: MS Dhoni

There has been a significant buzz regarding Chennai Super Kings’ comeback in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, there is another grand return in their ranks which has been much awaited. MS Dhoni is all set to don the captaincy role after featuring just as a player with the Rising Pune Supergiant in IPL 2017.

India’s most successful captain decided to step down last year and pass the baton to Virat Kohli. Even the RPS management decided to relieve him from the captaincy role. However, cometh the IPL 2018, captain cool will be walking out for the toss. Dhoni feels that it won’t be difficult for him to switch back to captaincy mode.

The wicketkeeper is always the vice-captain of a team

Ever since Kohli started captaining India, we’ve often seen Dhoni guiding him through various on-field decisions. Detailing the role of wicketkeepers in the team, MS Dhoni remarked that a wicketkeeper is always the secondary skipper. Since, he’s in a perfect spot to oversee the whole field of play, the movement of the ball and the batsman’s approach.

“I was never a captain before I became the captain of India. So I don’t think it is a difficult job. Secondly, the wicketkeeper is always considered the vice-captain of a team. He is somebody who is in the position to watch the game very closely. He understands the pace of the wicket, how the bowler is bowling, how the batsman is batting,” Dhoni said.

A captain is as good as his team

Other than MS Dhoni, we’ve seen various examples of wicketkeepers being successful captains. Adam Gilchrist led Deccan Chargers to victory in the IPL 2009, Kumar Sangakkara’s stint with the Sri Lankan team. He indicated how the notion of wicketkeepers being bad captains had been proved false time and again.

“Before a few of us – the wicketkeepers – started captaining sides, there was talk about why burden keepers with more responsibility. But stats have proved wicketkeepers have always been good captains. Maybe because they are so close to the game, they have very good analysis of the game,” the former Indian captain added.

However, he emphasised on the importance of having a significant team. Rationalising the theory of a captain being only as good as his team, Dhoni stated, “But again, we need to have a good team. If the resources are not good, it doesn’t matter who the captain is, whether it’s Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Clive Lloyd or any other great captains.”