Top 10 quotes on MS Dhoni - The pioneer of Indian cricket

MS Dhoni and his decisions come out of nowhere, be it on-field or off-field. While this gutsy calls he made on the field brought about great joy to the fans, his off-field decisions have often left the aficionado stunned. Just like his Test retirement announcement in 2014, MS Dhoni came up with his International retirement announcement on the 74th Independence Day of India.

There were speculations that he would play for India once again. At the same time, there were demands about his retirement as well. These have gone on for over a year and just as they seemed to pick up the pace once again ahead of the IPL, he came up with his retirement post shutting down all the talks.

For many, this was quite unexpected but that has always been the uniqueness of the 39-year-old. It is tough to predict what he is thinking and his opponents & teammates would know that the best. As we celebrate his glorious 15-year-long career, here are some of the best quotes on him.

Best Quotes on MS Dhoni during his career:

1. Sachin Tendulkar crediting MSD as the best captain he’s played under

No other cricketer in the world played international cricket for as long as Sachin Tendulkar did. In his glorious 24-year career, Sachin played with several cricketers and under several captains. From debuting under Krishnamachari Srikkanth to playing under several legends like Mohammad Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid, Sachin has seen it all.

He even played under the likes of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Ajay Jadeja. Moreover, the legend himself captained the team. But if there has to be one captain whom Sachin identified as the best, it is none other than MS Dhoni.

2. Kapil Dev terming MS Dhoni his hero

Former Indian captain Kapil Dev also experienced several highs and lows during his career. He played alongside several yesteryear legends and it was under him that India won its first-ever World Cup. Kapil, along with his devils, has achieved a lot during his playing days.

But if after all that, if someone caught his attention as much, it is our beloved MS Dhoni. Kapil calling Dhoni his hero is one of the best quotes on the 39-year-old. The all-rounder even added that the Ranchi player had as much talent as anyone in the game.

3. Gary Kirsten on going to war with Dhoni by his side

The MS Dhoni-Gary Kirsten partnership is one for the ages. In was under this duo that Indian cricket scaled new heights, found a new direction and recorded some of the best victories ever. MS Dhoni and Gary Kirsten had utmost mutual respect for each other and filled their respective roles to absolute perfection.

In 2011, after India won the World Cup, revealed several details about the campaign at an event in Mumbai. During that event, Gary Kirsten stated that he’d go to war with Dhoni by his side. This statement is a clear indication of the amount of respect and belief he had on his captain.

4. A huge statement coming from the former captain himself

Sourav Ganguly was the crisis man for the Indian cricket team after all the ruckus that was created in the early 2000s. He instilled a belief in the team, showed them that they could beat anyone and achieved some of the biggest milestones. Ganguly is often credited to have nurtured some of India’s finest players.

Many even regard him as one of India’s finest captain ever. And a statement coming from a person of such stature on MS Dhoni’s ODI captaincy is massive. Ganguly termed Dhoni as one of the greatest One-Day captains of all times.

5. A perfect way to sum up Dhoni’s career

Harsha Bhogle is one of India’s best commentators and the man is known for his one-liners. Over the past several years, gems were spilt out of his mouth as he spoke about some of the crickets. On one occasion, Harsha perfectly summed up Dhoni’s career.

MS Dhoni is known to be the best finisher in the game. He often enjoys taking the game till the end and shifting the pressure back on to the opposition within no time. And when he does that, India wins a majority of its games. On one of the occasions, Harsha said that Dhoni will make sure his team wins if he plays till the end.

6. How do you describe Dhoni – the finisher? Ian Bishop has got the best answer

Everyone knows what an explosive finisher MS Dhoni is. On most occasions, he managed to pull off some brilliant victories from the jaws of the defeat. Let us say Team India is chasing a steep target in a 50-over game, he often has his plans in place right until the 50th over the match exactly knowing which bowler to target or which bowler to play safely.

It is this ability of his that has made him as successful as he was in his role. On one occasion, describing Dhoni – the finisher, Ian Bishop coined the perfect statement. He said if 15 runs are needed off the last over, the pressure is on the bowler and the not MS Dhoni.

7. MS Dhoni delivers when it matters the most

Be it with his captaincy moves or his batting abilities, MS Dhoni always tries to maintain his calm. No amount of pressure can bring out a reaction in him and the man is always as composed as possible. This composure has often helped him make better decisions for the team.

The amount of composure that he maintains on the field is quite surprising for many. Out of bewilderment, former England skipper Michael Vaughan once said that MS Dhoni is the coolest man in World Cricket and added that he delivers when it matters the most.

8. India is lucky to have a captain like MS Dhoni

Back in the days, it was once of the best sights for the fans to watch MS Dhoni and VVS Laxman bat together in Test cricket lower down the order and rescue India out of many troubling situations. The duo has got a great understanding of one another. And from the slip cordon, Laxman watched MS from close quarters.

Thus it is no surprise that Laxman has managed to pick some wonderful qualities about MS Dhoni. He once said the wicket-keeper batsman has the uniqueness to respond to a tough situation with ease. He added that the 39-year-old does not involve himself emotionally.

9. He is someone whom I have always admired

It is not an understatement to say that Rahul Dravid has been one of the finest inspirations for cricketers in India and around the world. No matter if you are from his team or from the opposition, Rahul Dravid was always up there for advice and guidance. The way he conducts himself and goes about his business is something for everyone to follow.

And if a cricketer of such a stature has made a statement that Dhoni is someone whom he has always admired, one can understand what impact Dhoni had on his teammates and Indian cricket. Rahul even added that Dhoni always led by example.

10. Sunil Gavaskar’s last wish

India’s journey in the World Cup 2011 was nothing short of incredible. The team was brilliant and played with great determination. However, MS Dhoni was having a quiet tournament. Even though he was good with his captaincy, he failed to live up to the expectations with the bat.

And that was when, despite being in poor form, he decided to promote himself up the order in the Final. Under immense pressure, he played the knock of his life and finished the game with a six as India lifted the World Cup once again after 28 years. Former Indian cricketer, Sunil Gavaskar once said that the last thing he would want to see when he dies is that six by MS Dhoni.