Ravichandran Ashwin spoke about the leadership qualities of MS Dhoni as he revealed the traits that made him one of the greatest captains in the history of cricket. Ashwin said Dhoni's success was built on a simple but effective philosophy: getting the basics right.
Ashwin, who recently retired from international cricket, flourished under Dhoni's guidance in the IPL while playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and internationally. Recently, the off-spinner praised the former Indian captain's simple yet effective approach which made him one of the greatest captains of all time.
Ravichandran Ashwin reveals the simplicity behind MS Dhoni's incredible captaincy
Ravichandran Ashwin was quoted by Sky Sports as saying, “It's a very simple question to answer. In my mind, I think he does most of the basic things right and most of the other captains lack the basic basic things, which makes the game seem much more difficult for them.”
The 38-year-old explained that Dhoni's leadership style was built on a strong foundation of fundamentals, something that many other captains often overlook. Ravichandran Ashwin further revealed how MS Dhoni gave his bowlers the freedom to express themselves but also ensured that they remained disciplined.
Ashwin explained that Dhoni would ensure that the players adhered to the correct positions on the field and if a bowler delivered a loose ball to a new batsman, the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman would not hesitate to get them out.
Would take me bowling if: Ravichandran Ashwin
He added that this strict adherence to basic principles sets Dhoni apart from other captains and that is not followed by every captain these days. Ashwin further explained, “He would never, for example, give the ball to the bowler. The first thing he would say is to take your field and bowl to the field. He hated the fact that when a batsman came to bat and you bowled a free delivery, he wouldn't take me off the bowling.
If I hit two three boundaries in an over, that is well earned. If I gave a ball to a new batsman to cut or drive, he would be livid. It made me feel like I belonged and got me out of bowling. This is the basic essence of cricket. Over the years, I've realized that people have forgotten the basics.”
Highlighting MS Dhoni's brilliance as a captain, Ravichandran Ashwin credited the former Indian captain for pacer Tushar Deshpande's success in IPL 2023. Under Dhoni's captaincy, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won a record fifth IPL title with Deshpande playing the key. role taking 21 wickets in 16 matches last year.
Ashwin credits MS Dhoni for Tushar Deshpande's success in the IPL
Ashwin pointed out how Dhoni's simple approach to the game brought out the best in Deshpande. He explained that Dhoni would have focused on a few key objectives such as being hit on the longer side of the boundary and giving up fewer runs than the previous season. This not only helped take the pressure off the bowler but also encouraged him to focus on smaller and more achievable targets.
He signed off by saying, “There are certain facets of the game that don't change and MS Dhoni keeps it simple on those accounts. Last year in the IPL, he took on Tushar Despande and got the best out of him. I know exactly what MS Dhoni would have told him.”