Before the arrival of MS Dhoni, it would be considered a bonus for Indian wicketkeepers if they could bat well. Everyone was competent behind the stumps but if they managed a fifty or a rare hundred, it would be extra beneficial to the team. However, the arrival of MS Dhoni changed the perspective of wicketkeeper batsmen in India forever. Here was a player who could attack the opposition, have lightning fast reflexes and ensure that his batting was the x-factor in the side. This is the impression Gautam Gambhir, the former India batsman had when he saw MS Dhoni bludgeon bowling attacks during the 2004 tri-series in Kenya which included Pakistan A and the hosts as well as in Zimbabwe.
“We went on an India A tour to Kenya and Zimbabwe. We played a triangular series against Pakistan A and Kenya. The way he was hitting the ball we all knew he was someone who could keep wicket and hit the ball that long and that far. That was not normal for any Indian wicketkeeper to do because before that we had brilliant keepers, but never those hard-hitting players who could hit those 100-meter sixes. He was phenomenal and that’s the reason he’s achieved what he has,” Gautam Gambhir revealed in an interaction with a channel on his first impression of MS Dhoni.
On that tour against the Zimbabwe XI in Harare, MS Dhoni had his best wicket-keeping effort with seven catches and four stumpings in the match. In the tri-nation tournament involving Kenya, India A and Pakistan A, Dhoni helped India A chase down their target of 223 against Pakistan A with a half-century. Continuing his good performance, he scored back to back centuries which included 120 and an unbeaten 119 against the same team. MS Dhoni scored 362 runs in six innings at an average of 72.40.
Gets recognition
On December 23, 2004, MS Dhoni’s exploits got the attention of India cricket team skipper Sourav Ganguly and he was included in the series against Bangladesh. However, he was run-out for a first-ball duck. The poor start did not deter MS Dhoni and he went on to establish himself as one of the greats. His first century came against Pakistan when he smashed 148 in Vizag but his brilliance came against Sri Lanka when he hit 183, the highest score for a wicketkeeper-batsman.
MS Dhoni was handed the captaincy reigns and he transformed Indian cricket by becoming the first captain to win all three major ICC trophies. In two of thoese wins, Gautam Gambhir played a pivotal role by smashing 75 against Pakistan in Johannesburg in the 2007 World T20 final and a magnificent 97 against Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup summit clash.
