India clinched three ICC white-ball titles under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar praised Dhoni’s leadership, highlighting how he transformed the team’s mindset and raised the bar, starting with the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup.
There is little doubt that MS Dhoni stands as India’s greatest white-ball captain. Taking charge in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, he immediately made an impact by guiding a young and inexperienced side to the title. His team played fearless cricket and went on to defeat Pakistan in the final, a match remembered for S Sreesanth’s iconic catch to dismiss Misbah-ul-Haq.
Dhoni further cemented his legacy by leading India to the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup triumph, ending a 28-year wait for the trophy. He followed it up with another remarkable achievement in 2013, steering a transitioning Indian side to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy.
“He single-handedly raised the bar for the team” – Sanjay Manjrekar on MS Dhoni
“I would rank Imran Khan from the days gone by, and after that Mahendra Singh Dhoni, for what he achieved as a captain. I believe he single-handedly raised the bar for the team, even turning what was sometimes an average or inexperienced side—like in the 2007 T20 World Cup—into title winners,” Manjrekar said on Stalin Mathias’ YouTube channel.
Manjrekar further pointed out that MS Dhoni always delivered a different version of himself during big events. Elaborating, he added:
“He was unique when it came to performing on the big stage. Dhoni played a final with the same composure as an early league match. The pressure of a big final can overwhelm many players—and even captains—but MS Dhoni was different in that regard.”
