Former Indian fast bowler S Sreesanth has expressed a differing opinion regarding MS Dhoni’s alleged sacrifices for the team, countering Gautam Gambhir’s recent statement. Gambhir had suggested that Dhoni could have scored more runs if he batted higher in the order but made sacrifices for the team.
Dhoni’s Priority: Team Victories Over Personal Records
In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Sreesanth emphasized that MS Dhoni’s primary focus was on securing victories for the team rather than accumulating personal runs. According to Sreesanth, Dhoni possessed the unique ability to finish games when the team required it, which ultimately contributed to his two World Cup wins.
Sreesanth stated, “Gautam Bhai said recently that Dhoni would have scored more runs had he batted at No.3. But for Dhoni, it was always about more victories than more runs. He always had the ability to finish games when the team needed him, and he won two World Cups as well.”
Dhoni’s Strategic Batting Position Choices
Sreesanth also contested the notion that Dhoni sacrificed his batting position for the team. Instead, he credited Dhoni for his strategic acumen, highlighting how the former captain carefully assessed which players would perform best in specific positions and adjusted the batting order accordingly.
The former pacer added, “Credit should go to Dhoni, but he didn’t sacrifice his batting position. He worked a way to find out which players would do well for the team in which position and then slot them in those positions accordingly. His captaincy had the ability to bring the best out of his players. He has always thought about the team first.”
Dhoni’s Impact Beyond Cricket
Sreesanth also recalled a heartwarming incident during IPL 2023 when legendary Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar sought Dhoni’s autograph. This instance, according to Sreesanth, exemplified the profound impact Dhoni has had on people’s lives.
He noted, “Another quality of Dhoni is that he adds value to people’s lives. When we saw Sunil Gavaskar run towards Dhoni and take his autograph, it showed the greatness of him as well as Dhoni.”
As the cricketing world eagerly awaits Dhoni’s next move, his legacy and the indelible impact he has left on the game and its enthusiasts remain unquestionable.
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