Certain players in sports are beyond numbers as their contribution is unrivalled. MS Dhoni is one such name who simply changed the landscape of Indian cricket forever. He has led by an example both on and off the field.
Although the beginning was not as he had expected but Dhoni soon mend things and took giant strides towards greatness. 16 years since his debut, the small-town boy leaves a rich legacy behind him.
Arguably the most successful skipper to lead India, MS Dhoni is the only skipper to win three ICC titles. His winning numbers make him stand out from the rest. The former India skipper has without a shadow of doubt played an integral role in shaping the Indian cricket team which is now a powerhouse in world cricket.
While the 39-year-old has been clam and composed on the field, MS Dhoni never minced his words both on and off the field. He time and again gave befitting replies to media personnel who tried to take a sly dig on him or his side.
Here are 10 occasions when MS Dhoni proved that he is the boss both on and off the field:
10) I won’t count it as a bad performance. It was so bad that I can’t count it as a performance.
MS Dhoni is known for not holding back. He has time and again admitted bad days at office and bounced back strongly.
9) That’s why you should watch the game. What went wrong you would have realised.
8) At the moment, we are not even using one, where will we bowl two?
The time he felt helpless when ICC introduced the two-bouncer-an-over in ODIs, given how India’s fast bowlers were either injured or out of form.
7) If you are not 100 per cent fit and not at your best [and still play], it’s cheating.
When he made his position on fitness clear after sitting out a Test series in Sri Lanka, in 2008
6) Before I start I should say I read an article by you in Cricinfo. You’d said Australia were the favourites. Today I think me and the boys, we proved you wrong.
Speaking to Ravi Shastri after India’s thumping win over Australia in the semi-finals of the 2007 World T20, MS Dhoni had revealed that he read our site.
5) We are told that Mumbai is a city which is always on the move. See, me and my boys have brought the entire city to a standstill today.
His reaction after crowds thronged to welcome the team at a parade following the World T20 win.
4) If I have a drink in hand, I excuse myself by saying, ‘I’ll just get a drink’ but never show up in front of that person again.
Wonder if he still does this when he encounters someone with an Australian or British accent, which he found difficult to understand
3) From Kishore Kumar, we have gone to Sean Paul.
MS Dhoni had to adapt to the old and the young during his stint as captain.
2) You [media people] change my girlfriends every two days. Please let one continue for some time.
The days when Indian media loved speculating about all things Dhoni.
1) I don’t mind repeating everything.
After he led India to the 2011 World Cup. A lot of Dhoni fans wouldn’t mind hearing those words now.
