Gautam Gambhir takes a massive stand! Calls MS Dhoni the most successful Indian captain

MS Dhoni is the only captain to win all three white-ball ICC trophies.

Ahead of the upcoming IPL 2024 encounter between the unbeaten Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Chennai on April 8, 2024, KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir made a huge claim on former CSK captain MS Dhoni.

Dhoni and Gambhir are among the most successful captains in IPL history, and their early encounters produced thrilling games. Even when Gambhir returns to the sidelines for KKR, Dhoni will continue to play an important role on the pitch for CSK.

While MS Dhoni stepped down as CSK captain ahead of IPL 2024 after winning five IPL titles, Gautam Gambhir won two IPL titles as KKR captain in 2012 and 2014. Gambhir’s cricketing career came to an end in 2018 when he was replaced as Delhi Capitals captain mid-season.

Dhoni, on the other hand, has continued to play for CSK even after retiring from international cricket in 2020. At 42, this ongoing IPL 2024 might be MS Dhoni’s final outing in the yellow jersey for CSK.

Gautam Gambhir spoke about his winning drive and opined that winning was above everything else for MS Dhoni as well.

“I want to win. I am very clear in my mind. There are people, yes. Friends, mutual respect, everything is different. Everything will always remain, but then, when you are in the middle, I am captaining KKR, he is captaining CSK, and if you ask him if he was here instead of me, he will also say the same answer, it’s about winning. I want to get back in a winning dressing room,” Gambhir said on Star Sports ahead of KKR’s clash with CSK.

MS Dhoni last captained CSK in the final of IPL 2023 against Gujarat Titans and thrillingly won the final on the last ball.

MS Dhoni is probably the most successful captain India will ever have: Gautam Gambhir

MS Dhoni captained India from 2007-2017 and in his tenure, led India to multiple glories across formats. Under his captaincy, India became the No.1 ranked test side for the first time. In white-ball cricket, India won the Asia Cup in both ODI and T20I formats under his captaincy.

India also won the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 World Cup with MS Dhoni leading the side. Incidentally, Gautam Gambhir had played a match-winning knock in the finals of both the tournaments.

Gambhir remarked that no one can eclipse Dhoni’s laurels as a captain no matter what they do, as the former skipper delivered three ICC titles for India in six years.

“MS is probably the most successful captain India will ever have. I don’t think anyone can ever reach that level, winning three ICC trophies. People can win overseas, people can win as many Test matches, but it cannot get bigger than three ICC trophies,” Gautam Gambhir added.

Gambhir commended Dhoni’s tactical and finishing ability, stating that he needed to be at his utmost best in all facets to beat his opponent.

“In the IPL, I enjoyed every bit of it because I knew that MS had that tactical mindset. He was very good tactically, knew how to control the spinners, knew how to set the field against the spinners, and probably would never give up as well. He batted at No. 6 or 7 and knew that till the time he is there, he can finish off the game, even if he needed 20 runs in one over,” Gautam Gambhir said.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket for IPL 2024 Live Score & IPL Points Table,  on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.