New Delhi: MS Dhoni is considered one of the most exceptional captains in Indian cricket history. His selection for the captaincy was unexpected, yet he quickly made a significant impression by leading India to victory in the first T20 World Cup in 2007. Shortly after, he was also named the captain for One Day Internationals. The following year, Dhoni assumed the role of Test captain after Anil Kumble’s retirement.
Under Dhoni’s leadership, India achieved significant success, and he once held the record for the most Test victories by an Indian captain. He supported numerous players, including Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja, who ultimately validated his trust in them.
Dhoni once expressed a desire for Ashish Nehra to return to the Test team. However, due to his history of injuries, Nehra turned down Dhoni’s proposal. In an interview with The Times of India a few years ago, Nehra shared an intriguing story about this situation and said: I didn’t play for India between 2005 and 2009. A lot had changed in Indian cricket in that time. When I made a comeback, Dhoni was leading India. However, it was not that we were not on talking terms during that period. Dhoni had offered me Test cricket again in 2009, which I declined. Looking back, I do regret that decision a bit.”
Contrary to what many might assume, Dhoni did not exclude Nehra from the white-ball teams. In fact, Nehra was a member of the team led by Dhoni that triumphed in the 2011 World Cup.
Three years later, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) acquired Nehra during the IPL mega-auction. His achievements in the IPL led to an unexpected return to the T20I squad for the Australia T20I series at the beginning of 2016.
Dhoni consistently supported Nehra, who went on to participate in both the Asia Cup and the subsequent T20 World Cup. The left-arm fast bowler retired a year later.
Nehra currently serves as the head coach of the Gujarat Titans, while Dhoni continues to play professionally. He is set to return to the field for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2025 season.
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