Indian cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar recently shared some interesting insights into his early interactions with former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Tendulkar reminisced about the first time he saw Dhoni play, during the Bangladesh tour in 2003-04. He was immediately struck by the sound of the ball hitting Dhoni’s bat, noting to Sourav Ganguly, “Dada iske balle se awwaz kuch alag aa raha hai” (There is something different when he hits the ball).
Tendulkar also recalled an amusing incident involving Dhoni’s shyness. He revealed that for a few years, Dhoni never used to sit next to him on flights. Other players informed Tendulkar that Dhoni would often switch seats with them.
Tendulkar humorously added, “Kuch saal wo mere baaju mei baitha hi nahi” (For a few years, he never sat next to me). Eventually, they started sitting next to each other, with Tendulkar learning that Dhoni was shy, which explained his initial reluctance to sit beside the cricketing legend.
Sachin Tendulkar talks about MS Dhoni Captaincy
Furthermore, Tendulkar shed light on why he recommended Dhoni for the captaincy of the Indian cricket team in 2007. Despite being offered the captaincy himself, Tendulkar declined due to his poor physical condition at the time. Instead, he recommended Dhoni, citing the latter’s stable mind, calm demeanor, instinctiveness, and ability to make the right decisions as key factors.
“The BCCI offered me captaincy in 2007, but my body was in terrible shape.
“My observation of MS Dhoni was very good. His mind is very stable, he’s calm, he’s instinctive, and makes the right decisions. I recommended him for the captaincy”.
Dhoni’s leadership skills were evident from the start, and his captaincy career went on to be highly successful, leading India to numerous victories, including the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Dhoni, who recently stepped down as the captain of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the IPL 2024 season, continues to be a revered figure in Indian cricket. His contributions to the sport, both as a player and a leader, have left an indelible mark on the game and its followers worldwide.
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