Shikhar Dhawan On MS Dhoni: Former Indian team opener Shikhar Dhawan has made a big statement about the captaincy of ‘Captain Cool’ Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli. ‘Gabbar’ revealed who was the better captain between Dhoni and Kohli.
Dhawan, who played under both captains, said, “Dhoni was a very calm player. He always remained relaxed before and after the match.” In a conversation with ANI, Dhawan added, “Dhoni bhai had a very strong presence. By the time I played under him, he was already a very experienced captain.”
Dhoni Knew How the Team Works and Players Prepare
In a special conversation with ANI, Shikhar Dhawan said, “Virat Kohli, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Virender Sehwag have their styles. Dhoni was very calm. He didn’t talk much but spoke during team meetings. Every captain speaks before a match, but Dhoni remained calm even after the match. His strong presence made an impact. He knew how the team worked and how players prepared.”
Dhoni’s Eyes Were Enough to Scare Players: Dhawan
Former Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan revealed, “MS Dhoni was Captain Cool, but his eyes were enough to scare the players.” When asked about Dhoni’s anger, Dhawan said, “Dhoni bhai never got angry at any player. I never saw him shout. That was his strength. He was amazing. But when you looked into his eyes, you would get scared.”
Shikhar Dhawan 🗣️ “ Dhoni is very relaxed. He doesn’t talk much. He speaks during meetings, as every captain does, but even after matches, he doesn’t say much. His presence was very strong… He knew exactly how to run a team and how to prepare players,” pic.twitter.com/7WtQVsZXfQ
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) February 13, 2025
Dhawan on Virat Kohli’s Captaincy
Along with praising Dhoni’s leadership, Dhawan also spoke about Virat Kohli’s captaincy. He said, “After Dhoni, Virat Kohli took Team India forward. He changed the team culture regarding fitness, making it more aggressive and competitive. Virat is extremely fit and has a different energy, which brought a new fitness culture to the team. We had to stay fit and undergo the Yo-Yo test. Kohli kept maturing as a captain over time.”
Dhoni vs Kohli: Captaincy Record
Under Dhoni’s captaincy, India played 332 matches across formats, winning 178, losing 120, and drawing 15. He led India to victories in the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy. Virat Kohli captained India in 213 matches, securing 135 wins, 60 losses, and 11 draws.