It took about ten days to convince Sourav Ganguly to let MS Dhoni keep wickets: Kiran More

There’s no match to former Indian captain MS Dhoni when it comes to wicketkeeping. The veteran has successfully established himself as the best keeper-batsman to have played the gentleman’s game with his quick reflexes and exploits with the willow. However, not many are aware that it was Kiran More who found a gem like Dhoni and introduced him to the Indian cricket fraternity.

More recalled the selection of Dhoni saying that Indian selectors were desperately looking for a replacement for Rahul Dravid after the 2003 World Cup. Also, the management was hoping to find someone who is fast-paced and can accommodate well to the role of a finisher. 

Speaking on The Curtly & Karishma Show, Kiran told Curtly Ambrose and Karishma Kotak, “We were looking for a wicket-keeper batsman. At that time the format was changing and we were looking for a power-hitter, someone who can come at no.6 or 7 and get us quick 40-50 runs. Rahul Dravid played 75 ODI matches as a wicketkeeper and he played the 2003 World Cup as well. So, we were desperate for a wicket-keeper.”

Further in the interaction, More recalled a fascinating tale when it took him almost ten days to convince Sourav Ganguly to play Dhoni as the wicketkeeper instead of Deep Dasgupta. More revealed that he saw Dhoni play for the first time during a domestic competition and wanted him to keep the wickets for East Zone in the finals.

Kiran More narrates a fascinating tale featuring MS Dhoni

However, it was tough make Ganguly agree for the same as Deep Dasgupta was the designated wicketkeeper for the East Zone during those days. More somehow managed to convince Ganguly and Dhoni didn’t disappoint. “My colleague saw him first, then I went and saw him. I especially flew down and saw him get 130 runs out of the team’s total of 170. He smashed everyone. 

“We wanted him to play in the finals as a wicket-keeper. That’s when we had a lot of debate with Sourav Ganguly and Deep Dasgupta – who played for India then and who was from Calcutta. So, it took about ten days to convince Sourav and his selector to ask Deep Dasgupta to not keep wickets, and to let MS Dhoni keep wickets,” More mentioned.