In a recent revelation, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has unveiled another aspect of MS Dhoni‘s leadership philosophy. Dhoni, who captained both Team India and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to numerous victories, is regarded as one of the game’s greats.
In the “Find a Way with Taruwar Kohli” podcast, Harbhajan recalled an incident from his IPL franchise CSK days and during his last days in the profession. One match involving Shardul Thakur, who is an all-rounder was quite alarming as he was conceding too many runs in a match against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Harbhajan enquired about why there was no one to advise him or intervene, to which CSK captain responded that spoonfeeding would not assist him in the long run.
“I remember a game we were playing for CSK. I was fielding at the short fine leg and MS Dhoni was keeping. Shardul Thakur was bowling and the first ball, Kane Williamson hit him down the ground for a boundary.”
”Next ball, same length and Williamson played the same shot. I went to MS and asked him to tell Shardul to try and bowl different length,” Harbhajan Singh said . (15:10)
“MS said to me, ‘Paaji agar aaj bataunga na, yeh kabhi nahi seekhega (If I will tell him now, then he will never learn). Let him learn by himself.’ His thought process was that when Shardul will get hit for boundaries, he will learn it quickly. That was MS Dhoni’s way,” he added.
Shardul Thakur is known for his occasional inconsistency in bowling, leading to a higher economy rate. Despite this, he has had standout performances under MS Dhoni at CSK, including a key role in their 2021 title win, where he took 21 wickets at an economy rate of 8.81.
Many players have praised Dhoni for allowing them the freedom to express themselves and for providing valuable guidance when things go awry.
“He has always prioritized team goals over individuals” – Harbhajan Singh comments on MS Dhoni
The CSK franchise was represented by Harbhajan Singh between 2018 and 2020. He played frequently in his initial two years, yet did not participate at all in the 2020 edition and later on got released. The 44-year-old has additionally performed under captaincy of Dhoni in various formats for national teams.
On the same podcast, Harbhajan Singh highlighted some of the qualities that make MS Dhoni a natural leader, adding that his character and principles contributed significantly toward the accomplishments of CSK.
“He is very calm, which is a huge deal. Secondly, he is very clear what he wants. And third, his own ability to win games reflects on the team as well. These are three very important things Dhoni does.”
“Also, he ensures a great team environment is maintained. No one is treated like a biggie or a kid at the same time. What he has done matters. He is always prioritised team goals over individuals. I think that’s what made CSK a special team,” Harbhajan Singh elaborated. (1:15:37)
Since retired players are reportedly treated as ‘uncapped’ in the IPL retention process, there is a strong possibility that Dhoni could play in the next edition of the tournament.
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