MS Dhoni not just looks for good players but also good people: Mike Hussey

MS Dhoni not just looks for good players but also good people: Mike Hussey

Former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni is known to have the ‘Midas touch’ that not only has won India titles but also played a pivotal role in producing star players.

That role of Dhoni was one of the topics of discussion on the latest episode of Ravichandran Ashwin’s YouTube channel, where he hosted ‘Mr. Cricket’ Michael Hussey, who has had a longstanding relation with CSK and Dhoni.

IPL 2024 POINTS TABLE

Former Australia batsman Hussey has not just played under Dhoni’s captaincy at CSK but is also currently the batting coach of the five-time IPL winners Chennai.

Off-spinner Ashwin, who has also played for CSK in the past, asked Hussey about his perspective on Dhoni and his art of creating champions players and successful teams.

“I think he’s got a great feel for what it takes to create a winning environment and put a team together that will, in the long term, have success,” said Hussey. “Again, there’s that trust in the players…We’ve hardly changed the team over the years. There’s been that continuity. He looks for good players to play that particular role, but he also looks for good people. And once he has got those good people, he will really back them to the hilt.”

India’s 2011 World Cup winning-captain Dhoni handed over CSK captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the ongoing IPL 2024 season; but ‘Thala’, as he has been lovingly christened by CSK fans, continues to be the talisman guiding the team and its new captain Gaikwad.

Hussey substantiated his opinion about Dhoni by citing the example of his former Australia teammate Shane Watson, who used to open batting for Chennai.

“Another good example is Shane Watson,” said Hussey. “For us (Australia) he had a season where he could not score runs. But Dhoni just said ‘no, we are sticking with him, he will come good’. And sure enough, he came good when we made the playoffs. He made two big scores and we fell one run short of winning the title that year.”

Having led the team for five IPL titles since the league started in 2008, Dhoni, said Hussey, has always made the players feel that they are trusted.

“I think the other speical thing about Dhoni is that he has got this amazing ability to take pressure off players, particulary young Indian players,” Hussey added.

“He’s got an amazing perspective on the game; the way he treats people and players is very special. You feel like you’re backed, you’re trusted and you’re loved very much.”

Defending champions CSK are currently No. 4 on the IPL 2024 points table with three wins in five matches.

For more news like this visit TOI. Get all the Latest News, City News, India News, Business News, and Sports News. For Entertainment News, TV News, and Lifestyle Tips visit Etimes