MS Dhoni’s conduct and personality ensured that he earned respect from the whole world: VVS Laxman

MS Dhoni stunned the entire world last week by drawing curtains on an illustrious international career. Sharing his decision through an Instagram post, the former Indian skipper silently walked off the biggest stage in style.

Be it his brilliant finishing skills, agile wicketkeeping or exemplary leadership– MS Dhoni will go down as one of the most decorated names in Indian cricket. The Ranchi stalwart is the only skipper to have lifted all three ICC trophies– T20 World Cup (2007), ODI World Cup (2011) and Champions Trophy (2013).

Upon his retirement, social media, in no time, was flooded with tributes and wishes for ‘Mahi’. Along with his on-field antics, his humble attitude and personality had made Dhoni a fan-favourite. Several players also reminisced their on-field as well as off-field moments with ‘Captain Cool’.

Former India batsman VVS Laxman also highlighted how Dhoni’s vast fan-following was a result of how he carried himself on and off the field. Apart from steering the Indian team to unprecedented heights, Dhoni was known for his conduct.

All the cricketing fraternity have thanked MS Dhoni for his contribution: VVS Laxman

Laxman also pointed out that the former skipper always had an immense amount of responsibility on his shoulders while leading India. In the process, Dhoni became an ambassador of the nation.

“Love comes from the cricketing fans for your cricketing achievements, but respect comes by the way you have conducted yourself, by the way you carry yourself. And I always felt that captaining the Indian team is probably the toughest challenge for anyone, you know because there’s so much of expectations from everyone around the world.

All the Indians around the world want the Indian team to do well, so there’s a lot of responsibility on the Indian team captain. But MS Dhoni has always been emotionally detached from the results. The way he has inspired millions of Indians, not only the sports fans but millions of Indians on how to conduct and how to become an ambassador of your country, how to carry yourself in the public domain,” said Laxman on Star Sports’ Cricket Connected.

“And that’s why he’s so respected. When you see the social media posts, it’s not only from the former players or the cricketing fans, it’s from all the Indians, whether you take film stars, socialites, esteemed businessmen, politicians. Around the world, all the former cricketers, all the cricketing fraternity have thanked MS Dhoni for his contribution not to Indian cricket, but world cricket,” added the former Indian batsman.