MS Dhoni retirement: Holding lauds MSD for fantastic international career


MS Dhoni retirement: Holding lauds MSD for fantastic international career

Michael Holding

Michael Holding

The former West Indies pacer Michael Holding has lauded Mahendra Singh Dhoni calling him a fantastic skipper and wicketkeeper-batsman.

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Dhoni took over the captaincy in the 2007 World T20 and headed team India last time against Afghanistan in the 2018 Asia Cup.

Holding pointed out that Dhoni used to calm down the players on the field, having a chat with them rather getting overawed by the situation.

The 66-year-old expressed his viewpoint while speaking on his official Youtube channel.

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Dhoni was maverick as captain

MS Dhoni against West Indies

“When he was captaining, you never saw him get excited. If things seemed to be slipping, he would call his players, have a chat calmly and then they would go back to wherever they were and things would automatically change, that was the kind of influence he had,” Holding said.

Furthermore, Holding stated that Dhoni who made his debut against Bangladesh in Chattogram reminded him of a maverick when Captain Cool was in action back in 2004.

“When Dhoni first started to play ODIs for India that long flowing locks that we call it in the Caribbean, he looked like a maverick. He looked like someone who came out there just to destroy whatever comes in front of him and he pretty much did that,” he stated.

“Throughout his career, he hit 229 sixes (in ODIs). When you think of those numbers you must be thinking he must have played for 40 years to have hit so many sixes and fours. But that is the nature of the man,” Holding added.

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On August 15, Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket after an embellished 16-year career. Dhoni is all set to gear up for the upcoming IPL season in UAE which begins from September 19.

Also read: Top 5 knocks of MS Dhoni for Chennai Super Kings in IPL