Ravi Shastri reveals closed door talks during MS Dhoni's appointment as captain in 2007

MS Dhoni has won multiple big events for India as well as for his IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings.

After the 2007 World Cup debacle there was a lot of talk around the Indian cricket team. India were knocked out from the 2007 World Cup in the group round. It didn’t take long before team India was handed to a new leader, a young MS Dhoni. MS Dhoni went on to become one of the greatest captains of the Indian cricket team. Under his leadership, India won all three major ICC trophies, Asia Cup, Commonwealth Series in Australia, T20 World Cup, and also the number one rank in the test format. Just like Sourav Ganguly, he is also credited for giving youngsters the chances they deserve. One of his ardent admirers and Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri revealed how the captaincy baton was passed on to him. 

'Everyone saw MS Dhoni's street smartness'

Former Indian cricket team coach Ravi Shastri has revealed how selectors and others identified and appointed MS Dhoni as skipper. Talking to Star Network, he said, “Coolness is one thing but the way he reads and understands the game is terrific. I remember when I was a manager in 2007 and Dilip Vengsarkar was the selector. Rahul Dravid was injured in a practice session at Eden Gardens, we were speaking and MS Dhoni’s name popped up. He asked me and I said, ‘This guy has leadership qualities’. It didn’t take long and Dilip Vengsarkar was on the same page. He was an ideal selector at that time and he had felt that this guy has got it in him. So what he was seeing was his ability to read the game and not only coolness. Dhoni’s street smartness, all these things come into play when you are looking for a captain”. The 2007 T20 World Cup was MS Dhoni’s first assignment as captain, and he delivered by beating Pakistan in the finals. 

When asked about whose captaincy Ravi Shastri will love to play in the Indian Premier League, Ravi replied by taking MS Dhoni’s name. Shastri replied, “Will enjoy playing under MS Dhoni’s leadership in the IPL. His record forces you to put him right up”. Along with international trophies, MS Dhoni has also won the Indian Premier League title for 4-times. MS Dhoni has captained Team India in 60 tests, 200 ODIs, and 72 T20I games. He has won 27 tests, 110 ODIs, and 41 T20s as captain.