Kapil Dev names MS Dhoni as India’s greatest ever cricketer

12/19/2018

Kapil Dev has unequivocally stated that MS Dhoni is the best cricketer India has ever produced and also commended the latter for putting nation’s interest before everything else. Dhoni had announced his retirement from Test cricket just ten matches short of reaching the hundred matches landmark.

In the ongoing Test series between India and Australia, after losing the first match hosts Australia came back strong in the second game and have equalized the series 1-1 with two matches still to go. But the last time India had toured Australia the scenario was a lot more different. In 2014 visitors India lost first two Tests and drew the third to lose the four-match Test series. As soon as India lost the series, the then captain of the team, MS Dhoni announced his decision to retire from the longest format of the game with immediate effect. Praising Dhoni for the decision, Kapil Dev has stated that Dhoni always makes nation’s interest his priority.

"MS Dhoni is the greatest player India has ever produced. He played 90 Tests and then said let's give a chance to the youngsters. Dhoni did that and hats off to him for putting his country before himself," Dev told AajTak.

Both Dev and Dhoni were the captains of their respective sides when India won the ODI Cricket World Cup in the year’s 1983 and 2011 respectively. In recent times Dhoni has come under scrutiny for his failure to contribute with the bat. Yet, Sunil Gavaskar, who was present with Kapil Dev imagined an ideal scenario where India won the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England and Dhoni scored the winning six.

"Lord's final - Pakistan's Amir bowling in the final over - India need 6 runs and MS Dhoni hits it out of the stands. And he would then celebrate like he did in the 2011 World Cup."

With India’s batting order completely failing in the recent Test match against Australia. Dev said that he would like to help any player who need help but only when they seek help. He asserted that he would not go to their dressing room and start advising them.

"I don't go to them - I have learnt this from Sunny bhai.. I won't go to them unless they need me. When they become big players and play for India, it is their responsibility. No former cricketer would not want to help. We all want to help them - but they have to ask.. If they think we can help, no one will say no. But I don't think we should go to their dressing room because they have their own ways and technique."

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