Former India captain MS Dhoni may have retired from international cricket, but his many memorable entries will still go down in cricket history as some of the most destructive batting displays ever seen on the cricket field. Dhoni, since arriving in 2004, has made a name for himself for his abilities not only to hit big shots, but also to bring his team home from precarious positions. The game wasn’t over until MS Dhoni was in the middle.
In a recent interaction, former England player Monty Panesar recalled some of his favorite memories on the field with Dhoni, talking about an entry that left him wondering ‘how’s he doing!’
“My favorite moment with Dhoni was in Mumbai when I missed his catch. It landed 10 meters to my right, cut through the sun, and I misjudged it completely. And then two balls later, I caught it. So that’s cricket for you. One minute you are zero, the next minute you are a hero. He (Dhoni) will always be a hero to the nation, ”Panesar told Times of India.
“I think (when) Dhoni went into (the) reckoning it was actually his hundred against Pakistan, when he was shooting Shoaib Akhtar by four and six. We were all sitting around and wondering, ‘Oh, how is he doing that?’ ”Panesar added.
Most likely, Panesar was referring to Dhoni’s 148 innings at the Faisalabad Test in 2006 against Pakistan. It’s so because when Dhoni broke 148 in the 2005 ODI against Pakistan at Vizag, Akhtar wasn’t playing.
“And then I remember bowling in Kolkata where I got hit by a six out of nowhere. It just went miles. Dhoni’s six-hitter is almost 20 meters further than the normal hitter, ”added the former England running back.
“I think I always found MSD very calm, collected and it always seemed like life was going at a slow pace for him. It was as if nothing bothered him. It was his calm demeanor that was his strength. Not many cricketers have this quality, but he did have it throughout his entire career. I think that’s what makes him a great leader, ”concluded Panesar.
Dhoni will return to cricket for CSK when the IPL begins next month.
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