During the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, star India batsman Virat Kohli pondered on MS Dhonis calming presence and enduring leadership. Kohli believes that one of Dhoni’s greatest strengths is his ability to remain calm even in the most stressful situations, which allows for sound decision-making.
“His biggest strength is simply retaining his composure in the most difficult situations. That’s why he’s so good: he can make the right decisions under pressure. He is always cool and composed, and he allows himself to enter that mental zone in which he can make the most crucial calls. There is so much to learn from him. When I first joined the Indian team, he was my captain—and he always will be,” Kohli stated on JioHotstar’s ‘7 Shades of MS Dhoni’.
India batsman Rohit Sharma recalls Dhoni’s presence in the dressing room during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, when Dhoni served as the Indian team’s official mentor. Rohit praised Dhoni’s approach and his calm leadership, which made players feel confident under his command.
“From my standpoint, in 2007, I made my World Cup debut under him. Since then, we’ve had a long journey and played a lot of cricket together. His ability to connect with and motivate young players, regardless of the game scenario or the player’s performance, is simply remarkable. He always strives to establish a tranquil environment for a player so that they do not feel insecure. I think it’s a very important attribute.”
Jos Buttler, England’s previous white-ball captain, poured admiration on Dhoni during the 2019 World Cup. Buttler went on to claim that he idolised Dhoni as a child and that he is a “huge MS Dhoni fan”.
“As a fellow wicketkeeper, he was a childhood idol of mine—Mr Cool. I’ve always admired his demeanour on the pitch; he appears so calm and in control when he bats. He possesses lightning-fast hands behind the stumps and enjoys taking the game deep. His distinct flair makes him an excellent spokesperson for the game. “I am a huge MS Dhoni fan.”
Aakash Chopra, a commentator and analyst, hailed Dhonis captaincy, praising the previous captain for allowing entire freedom and fully supporting the team.
“He established a unique leadership style. If you look at the seven known leadership styles, his would be considered ‘leading from behind.’ Captains usually lead from the front or set an example. However, Dhoni was different. He would say, ‘You all go ahead, do your job, play your game.’ He provided his players with complete freedom. If things didn’t go as planned, he was always ready to accept responsibility. That level of trust and support made all the difference.
Sanjay Manjrekar, a former India cricketer, also remarked on Dhoni’s effect as captain, claiming that no other cricketer has had the same impact on Indian cricket.
“Mahendra Singh Dhoni has had a huge impact on Indian cricket.” With all due respect to the legends, I don’t believe anyone has had a larger influence than Dhoni. What you saw in Indian cricket under Dhoni’s leadership was tranquilly on the big stage. When the opponent captain came to the toss—and I’ve been involved in a few tosses myself—you could see Dhoni was far calmer than the opposition captain, even on the greatest stages. That was exactly what India required. India has always had the talent and will to win, but they have never been able to cross the finish line. Dhoni’s greatest contribution has been to lead by example.
Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden called Dhoni a “natural leader” and gave his thoughts on his leadership.
“He was a natural leader.” It takes around one and a half minutes to identify a natural leader without using words. And that is MS Dhoni. He commands respect in any dressing room simply because he is a really likeable, selfless, loving, and sensitive person. He’s also hilarious and extremely calm. These are excellent characteristics, particularly under pressure. Imagine performing for 1.4 to 1.6 billion people who want you to win the World Cup. That demands enormous and persistent mental strength, and he has demonstrated it.”
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