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'We Were Used To Seeing That From Dhoni But...', Sunil Gavaskar Recalls A Moment


image-lfnpira4MS Dhoni is one of the best captains the game has seen (Source: BCCI/IPL)

Former Indian cricketer, Sunil Gavaskar, has lavished praise upon MS Dhoni, lauding his exceptional leadership abilities. The cricketer-turned-commentator, commended Dhoni's capacity to unite a team, even after a lengthy hiatus.

Chennai Super Kings were suspended from the Indian Premier League for two seasons following a scandal involving betting in 2013. However, they made a rousing comeback and emerged victorious in the 2018 edition, thanks in large part to the veteran stumper's exceptional leadership.

Gavaskar was effusive in his praise for the former Indian captain, stating that Dhoni's leadership was truly remarkable. He added that despite the team's two-year absence from the competition, the Indian talisman managed to bring his players back together and create a sense of team spirit that proved critical to their success.

"I think when CSK returned and won the IPL trophy, it was absolutely amazing because the team had not been together for two years and they had moved out with different franchises and suddenly they come back again. That tells you leadership. That tells you how the man could get a team together again after that gap,"

The legendary batsman went on to state that Dhoni's ability to perform under pressure is what sets him apart from other players. He described one particular game in which the CSK skipper's pressure-consuming ability shone through as he recounted the time when the team needed to score 20 runs in the final over.

Gavaskar stated that the explosive batsman proceeded to hit the ball with such power and precision that it sailed over the boundary for sixes. According to the erstwhile cricketer, it was moments like these that made Dhoni stand out from other players.

“I remember one game where the teams needed 20 odds runs in the final over and he just smashed it around from everywhere from outside the off stump, he was hitting it over long on for sixes,"

Moreover, the 73-year-old emphasized that the wicketkeeper-batsman’s leadership style was unique in the way that it instilled confidence and elevated his teammates. He mentioned that Dhoni's ability to make his fielders feel taller than seven feet was a testament to his exceptional leadership abilities.

"We were used to seeing that from Dhoni but even those little touches of his where he makes a fielder, a player feel 7 feet tall, are the touches that make him stand out from the others."

Chennai Super Kings will commence their IPL 2023 campaign against the defending champions, the Gujarat Titans, on March 31.