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Iconic Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on Sunday selected as the leader of the greatest IPL team of all time, chosen to celebrate the success of the world’s most popular T20 league, which was launched in 2008.
The selection panel consisted of former cricketers Wasim Akram, Matthew Hayden, Tom Moody and Dale Steyn. Nearly 70 journalists were also part of the selection process.
Australia’s fiery David Warner and India’s leading batsman Virat Kohli were picked as openers while ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle got the number three spot in the batting order.
The middle order consisted of Suresh Raina, AB de Villiers, Suryakumar Yadav and Dhoni, while Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Kieron Pollard were the three all-rounders in the 15-member team.
Rashid Khan, the wily Sunil Narine and Yuzvendra Chahal formed the spin attack, while Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah were the unanimous choice for the fast bowlers’ spots.
The marquee tournament will complete 16 years of the first IPL auction on February 20, 2024.
In the realm of IPL cricket, few names shine as brightly as Dhoni. Widely regarded as one of the most successful captains in cricket history, his leadership prowess has earned him praise from his peers and experts alike.
Speaking exclusively on the ‘Star Sports Incredible 16 of IPL’ show, former South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn echoed the sentiments shared by many when he hailed Dhoni as the epitome of leadership excellence.
“It has to be MS Dhoni. He’s won it all: the World Cup, the IPL, the ICC Champions Trophy,” Steyn said.
“He’s a leader of men, and you have a group of men here who are at the top level of their game, and they need someone who has been there and done that and can handle them extremely well on and off the field, so that I will have to go with MS Dhoni,” he said.
Former Australia cricketer and coach Tom Moody highlighted Dhoni’s remarkable feat.
“For me it has to be MS Dhoni, the reason is that MS Dhoni won the title with very good teams and average teams, and that tells me a lot about the captain and how he can lead a variety of talents in a team to success. . “Rohit Sharma has been a brilliant captain for MI, but MI has always had the best teams or is at par with the best teams in the IPL since its inception,” he said.
It was not just Dhoni’s captaincy prowess that received praise. Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden went further and stated that he too has the potential to be a coach.
“It’s an obvious choice, it’s not a debate here. It will be unanimous among the entire Indian community.
“Of course, Rohit Sharma, the Hitman, is also an incredible leader, so it is a tough choice, but I am going to be bold and choose Dhoni as captain and coach as well.
“It started in 2008, Shane Warne was captain and coach, and he led the franchise, the double Rs, to a title that year, and I feel MS Dhoni can be a coach too,” he said.
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Great IPL team of all time:
MS Dhoni (C), Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, David Warner, Suresh Raina, AB de Villiers, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kieron Pollard, Rashid Khan, Sunil Narine, Yuzvendra Chahal, Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed. PTI)
first published: February 18, 2024, 22:11 IST