L Balaji who is a former Indian pacer and CSK’s bowling coach has revealed that MS Dhoni came to discuss cricketing issues with him minutes after announcing his retirement from international cricket at 7.29 PM but he was completely ignorant of his decision to retire and the 39-year-old MS Dhoni was extremely casual in approaching the bowling coach. Lakshmipathy Balaji appraised the former Indian captain for his ability to disengage himself from any tensed situation.
MS Dhoni will still continue to play IPL for CSK despite bringing down curtains on his 16-year-old international career where he captained India from 2007 to 2016 in limited-overs. He retired as a captain in Tests in 2014 to give the likes of Wriddhiman Saha more opportunity.
L Balaji Photo credit: IANS
L Balaji Says MS Dhoni Was Casual Even After Announcing Retirement
The 38-year-old L Balaji said that just like any other normal days, MS Dhoni walked up to him after completing a training session at CSK camp to discuss cricketing matters and was so casual and cool-headed in his approach that it never felt as if he had announced his retirement from international cricket a few minutes ago. Lakshmipathy Balaji was informed by the Ranchi-born that he had asked the groundsman to water the pitch more.
“After practice gets over, I normally talk a lot to Dhoni about the wicket, about practising and playing conditions. So that day, I finished practice and I went inside. I did not realise that he had already put his retirement message at 7:29 pm. So, after posting the message, Dhoni walked up to me as usual and he casually told me that he had asked the groundsman to water the ground extra for the pitch. I said okay. And I didn’t realise anything, it was a huge moment in his life.”
MS Dhoni. Image Credit: BCCI.
“But, just like that, he moved on, and that’s Dhoni for you. I finally realised he announced his retirement. It took some time for me to sink in the moment. Dhoni’s uniqueness is the way he is detached. He will never stop no matter what the situation is, and moves on in his own style”, Balaji told on Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected’.
L Balaji further added that there can be only one MS Dhoni and no better cricketer have arrived in the millennium in terms of having an influence on cricket. The Tamil-Nadu born said that he had only heard of destructive batsmen before meeting MS Dhoni who was a revelation.
L Balaji To Still Pick Dhoni To Score 20 Runs In 1 Over
Lakshmipathy Balaji heaped praises on the CSK captain and said he would still prefer MS Dhoni over others if 20 runs were needed to win from the last over consisting of six balls. MS Dhoni changed the concept of leadership among all the captains in his time giving India two World Cups- the T20I World Cup in 2007 and 2011 World Cup which India won after a hiatus of 28 years.
“From the year 2000, according to me, there’s nobody like Dhoni who’s had such a massive influence on not just Indian cricket but world cricket. I’ve heard about brutal hitting, hard-hitting that when someone hits the ball, it’ll be difficult for a bowler or a fielder to even keep their hands on the ball. I saw that for the first time with Dhoni.”
MS Dhoni. Image Credit: Getty Images.
“Even now if there are 20-plus runs needed to win in the last over and if I had to pick someone, it would always be Dhoni. Such massive impact he has. His leadership and his batting styles are totally different. His leadership changed the perception of leadership among all captains. The way he maintains his emotion on field, maintaining the team environment and camaraderie, leading the team successfully, only MS Dhoni could do it,” Balaji added.
MS Dhoni retired from international cricket on August 15 and is currently in UAE to play in the IPL 2020, which is set to kick off from September 19. MS Dhoni retired as the only captain to win all three ICC trophies-T20I World Cup in 2007, 50 overs World Cup in 2011 and 2013 Champions Trophy.
