Dhoni ‘Changed Whole Face of Indian Cricket’ Says Pakistan’s Misbah

Pakistan Coach Misbah-ul-Haq informs M.S. Dhoni had "changed the face of Indian cricket" after the former captain declared his international retirement on Saturday.

Dhoni, 39-year-old wicketkeeper and batsman, is India's most prolific skipper, playing a leading role in their 2011 World Cup final triumph on home soil, and even guiding them to victory in the inaugural T20 World Cup final and the Champions Trophy, reports AFP.

“He’s a big name in Indian cricket, he’s served Indian cricket very well,” Misbah, who played against Dhoni, told AFP after the third day’s play in the second Test between England and Pakistan at Southampton was washed out.

Misbah added that Dhoni, renowned for his distinct attitude in the crease, had altered the Indian team's mindset.

“One of the greats I think, the way he changed the approach and especially he achieved so much for Indian cricket, winning the World Cup, winning the Champions Trophy, winning the T20 World Cup,” said Misbah.

“He’s got all the trophies in his bag,” added the former batsman, a member of the Pakistan side that suffered a dramatic five-run defeat by arch-rivals India in the 2007 World Twenty20 final in Johannesburg. – ‘Cool captain’ –

Dhoni was also renowned for his abilities under pressure, a skill that he displayed in his 91 not-out against Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup final in Mumbai, where he secured a six-game style victory over Nuwan Kulasekara with a six-game win over the batting order.

“He was such a cool captain on the outside, but from the inside such an aggressive player,” said former Pakistan skipper Misbah, who also paid tribute to Dhoni’s qualities as a tactician and man-manager.

“He was such a ‘shrewd’, you could say, captain — the way he handled the team, the way he just developed the team and changed the team from seniors (senior players), brought up some juniors.

“He changed the whole culture of the team, the whole face of Indian cricket — a wonderful servant of the game.”

Misbah added that, under Dhoni, the national side had gone to greater heights than even the legendary squad captained by Sourav Ganguly, now chairman of the Cricket Control Board in India.

“He was the one name who really took Indian cricket from wherever Sourav left the team and then from there on he did wonders for Indian cricket,” said Misbah. “Such a wonderful person and a very, very good captain.”