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Imran Khan Over MS Dhoni: Legend Ranks India, Pakistan Captains In Classic Comparison

Soumyajit Dutta

MS Dhoni and Sanjay Manjrekar [Source: @dilawar_faruq/X.com]MS Dhoni and Sanjay Manjrekar [Source: @dilawar_faruq/X.com]

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has hailed MS Dhoni’s unique captaincy skills, ranking him alongside Pakistan legend Imran Khan. According to Manjrekar, Dhoni had the rare ability to transform an inexperienced squad into a championship-winning unit.

While it is not unknown to Indian cricket fans, for the unaware, MS Dhoni remains India’s most successful captain, leading India to all major ICC white-ball trophies, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and Asia Cups. He captained 332 internationals, took India to Test No.1, and twice won ICC ODI Player of the Year.

Sanjay Manjrekar Compares Dhoni with Imran Khan

Manjrekar while speaking on Stalin Mathias’ YouTube channel, explained what made MS Dhoni's captaincy and leadership unique, adding that Dhoni’s calmness under pressure separated him from other captains. 

"I would place Imran Khan among the greats of the past, followed by MS Dhoni for his remarkable captaincy. Dhoni single-handedly lifted the team’s standards and raised the bar, guiding even inexperienced sides, like the 2007 T20 World Cup squad, to achieve title-winning success," said Manjrekar in the podcast.

Dhoni’s Calmness in Big Finals

Dhoni’s composure during crunch games has been a hallmark of his career. Be it the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, or the 2013 Champions Trophy, Dhoni maintained the same fearless approach, inspiring his teammates to perform beyond expectations. Manjrekar believes this mental strength elevated Dhoni into the league of all-time greats.

"I believe Dhoni was unique when it came to handling big stages. He approached finals with the same calmness as any league game. While pressure often affects players and even captains, Dhoni’s composure in such moments set him apart," Manjrekar concluded.

Coming off of the national jersey, MS Dhoni has guided his IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings to five IPL titles (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023), making them one of the league’s most successful franchises. Under his leadership, CSK have also reached a record ten IPL finals, while matching Mumbai Indians’ five-title tally.