Former India skipper MS Dhoni is known to have one of the smartest cricketing brains in cricket history. He is regarded as one of the greatest all-time captains. As a captain, he has led India to three ICC trophies which makes him the only captain in history to win all the trophies.
We have often seen Dhoni give instinctive advice to bowlers from behind the stumps especially to Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. Recently, former England spinner Monty Panesar has revealed a small excerpt from one of India vs England Test series.
Monty, who has roots from India revealed how Dhoni used to tip his bowlers during one of the Tests against India.
Dhoni thought I don’t understand Hindi – Panesar
“I remember his tips to the bowlers, especially spinners from behind the stumps. Abhi thodi wide ball daalo. Abhi thoda seedha stumps pe rakho. Ye cross line khelne waala hai, seedha daalo. Ye deep mid-wicket pe chakka marega, thoda wide rakhna,” recalled Monty Panesar while speaking to the Times of India.
The English finger spinner acted as if he didn’t understand anything when MS Dhoni was busy tipping his bowlers. Monty Panesar thought if he reacted then Dhoni would stop all the tipping which would make batting difficult for Monty, which is why he chose to stay quiet.
“I can speak Hindi and Punjabi to a great extent. MSD thought I didn’t understand. I heard everything, but I also acted like MSD, as if I didn’t hear anything. I heard and (then) acted as if I didn’t hear anything. But I knew everything,” he added.
Monty hailed MS Dhoni for his mind-reading ability. He praised the Indian Legend’s ability to finish games from impossible situations. Whether it’s about scoring 10 runs per over or 15 runs per over, Dhoni is one of the very few people who knew how to make huge chases look easy.
“He (MS Dhoni) was very good at reading other people, but people couldn’t read him. That was another strength. You will never be able to know what is going on in Dhoni’s mind when he is at the crease and India need 15 runs per over in the last three overs. And he gets it. How does he do it? That’s MSD’s secret,” Panesar asserted.
