MS Dhoni is widely considered as one of the greatest captains in the history of sports. He has achieved success in almost every tournament where he has led his team. His ability to maximize the potential of available resources and bring out the best in his players is a major factor behind his success.
Several lesser-known players have emerged in IPL as stars under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. One of the recent examples is Tushar Deshpande, an uncapped pacer who joined Chennai Super Kings last year. While he struggled initially, going wicketless and conceding runs, he has since picked up crucial wickets in his last two outings against the Lucknow Super Giants and the Mumbai Indians, helping CSK secure victories.
Deshpande’s improved performance means he is now likely to play the entire season for CSK. Many other fast bowlers have thrived under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, with three other examples listed below.
1) Deepak Chahar
In 2011, Deepak Chahar was signed by the Rajasthan Royals, but he was never given a chance to play for them. Despite this setback, he continued to perform well in domestic cricket, which ultimately led to him being picked up by the Rising Pune Supergiant for the 2016 IPL season.
Under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, Chahar made his IPL debut that year, but he did not manage to take any wickets. However, his bowling performance caught Dhoni’s attention, and he was later offered a contract to play for the Chennai Super Kings in 2018. Chahar proved to be a valuable addition to the team, taking a total of 32 wickets in the 2018 and 2019 IPL seasons.
As a result of his impressive performances, Chahar was also called up to the Indian national squad. Currently, he is one of the highest-paid players in the IPL.
2) Shardul Thakur
In 2015, Shardul Thakur began his IPL career with the Punjab Kings, but it was not until he joined the Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017 that he found his footing. Thakur had a decent season with RPS and was later recruited by the Chennai Super Kings for the 2018 season.
Under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, Thakur had a successful stint with CSK, taking 16 wickets in 13 matches in 2018. His impressive bowling performance played a crucial role in helping CSK win the IPL championship that year. Shortly after his success with CSK, Thakur made his debut for the Indian cricket team, much like his fellow teammate, Deepak Chahar.
3) Joginder Sharma
Although Joginder Sharma had made his debut for India in 2004, he was not widely known among cricket fans until the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007. It was during this tournament, held in South Africa, that he gained recognition as a talented fast bowler while playing under the captaincy of MS Dhoni.
In the semifinal match against Australia, Sharma’s crucial wicket of Michael Hussey helped India secure a victory. In the final match against Pakistan, Dhoni entrusted Sharma with the responsibility of bowling the final over. Sharma rose to the occasion and dismissed Misbah-ul-Haq, playing a pivotal role in India’s historic win and becoming the inaugural T20 World Cup champions.