Ravichandran Ashwin has opened up about MS Dhoni’s leadership qualities, as he revealed the traits that made him one of the greatest captains in cricket history. Ashwin said that Dhoni’s success was built on a simple yet effective philosophy: doing the basics right.
Ashwin, who recently retired from international cricket, flourished under Dhoni’s guidance at the IPL while playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and international level. Recently, the off-spinner praised the former Indian captain’s simple yet effective approach, which made him one of the all-time greatest captains.
Ravichandran Ashwin reveals the simplicity behind MS Dhoni’s incredible captaincy
Ravichandran Ashwin was quoted as saying by Sky Sports: “It is a very simple question to answer. In my head, I think he does most of the basic things right, and most of the other captains miss the basic elementary things, which makes the game look much more difficult for them.”
The 38-year-old explained that Dhoni’s leadership style was built around a strong foundation of fundamentals, something many other captains often overlook. Ravichandran Ashwin further revealed how MS Dhoni gave his bowlers the freedom to express themselves but also made sure they stayed disciplined.
Ashwin explained that Dhoni would ensure bowlers adhered to the right field placements, and if a bowler delivered a loose ball to a new batter, the legendary wicketkeeper-batter would not hesitate to take them off.
He would take me off bowling if: Ravichandran Ashwin
He added that this strict adherence to basic principles set Dhoni apart from other captains and that’s something not every captain follows these days. Ashwin further explained, “He would never, for example, give the bowler the ball. The first thing he would say is to take your field and bowl to the field. He hated the fact that when a batter came to bat and you gave a loose delivery, he wouldn’t take me off bowling.
If I gave two three boundaries in an over, that is well earned. If I gave a new batter a ball to cut or drive, he would be livid. He would make me feel my place, and he would take me off bowling. That is the very basic essence of cricket. Over the years, I realized people have forgotten the basics.”
Highlighting MS Dhoni’s brilliance as a captain, Ravichandran Ashwin credited the former Indian captain for the success of pacer Tushar Deshpande in IPL 2023. Under Dhoni’s captaincy, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won a record-equaling fifth IPL title, with Deshpande playing a key role by taking 21 wickets in 16 matches last year.
Ashwin gives credit to MS Dhoni for Tushar Deshpande’s success in IPL
Ashwin pointed out how Dhoni’s simple approach to the game brought the best out of Deshpande. He explained that Dhoni would have focused on a few key goals, like getting hit on the longer side of the boundary and giving up fewer runs than the previous season. This not only helped relieve pressure on the bowler but also encouraged him to focus on smaller, more achievable goals.
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 IPL, he got Tushar Despande, and he got the best out of him. I know what exactly MS Dhoni would have told him.”