Former Team India cricketer Irfan Pathan has expressed his thoughts on how MS Dhoni evolved as the Men In Blue skipper over the years.
Pathan, who featured for India under the leadership of Dhoni at the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy, revealed how the former Team India skipper used to get excited quickly at the start but he grew much more calmer as years went by and he gained more experience.
"In 2007, it was the first time and you understand that when you are given a big responsibility of leading a team, you get excited," Ifran Pathan said while speaking at a talk show when questioned what's the main difference between MS Dhoni of 2007 and 2013.
"The team meetings were always small though, both in 2007 and 2013 during Champions Trophy, just 5 minutes meeting. The one thing which really really changed was when young MS Dhoni became a captain in 2007, he used to run from wicketkeeping to bowling end in excitement and try to control the bowler as well but by the time 2013 came he was letting the bowler control themselves rather he controlling them. He was very calm and in control," he added.
Pathan also revealed how the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman started believing his spinners and trusted them to become the match winners.
"Between 2007 and 2013 he gained the experience of trusting his slow bowlers and spinner and by the time Champions Trophy came he was very clear that in crucial time he needs to get his spinners into play to win the games."
Since India's semi-final exit from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 against New Zealand in August last year, MSD hasn't featured for the Men In Blue.
During his break from cricket, the 38-year-old also served for the Indian Army too.
The 13th edition of the IPL was supposed to act as a stepping stone for Dhoni to showcase his worth and forge his way back into the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to postpone the kick-off the IPL 2020 until further notice.
