Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
Former India opener Murali Vijay has praised legendary captain MS Dhoni, calling him a natural and very unique leader whose instinctive decisions changed the course of Indian cricket. He recalled how Dhoni trusted Joginder Sharma with the final over of the 2007 T20 World Cup, a move that many questioned at the time but later became a historic moment. Vijay said Dhoni had qualities that cannot be copied and described him as someone with rare mental strength and unmatched power-hitting ability.
Murali Vijay played for Chennai Super Kings for eight seasons under Dhoni’s leadership and said the former captain influenced many careers. Dhoni, who now plays only in the IPL, has been retained by Chennai Super Kings for the IPL 2026 season. Vijay added that Dhoni’s ability to dominate high-pressure situations and his fearless approach made him one of India’s most iconic leaders. He also praised Dhoni’s range of six-hitting, saying very few right-handers could match his power.
During an interview on Taruwar Kohli’s YouTube channel, Vijay shared his admiration for Dhoni’s mindset and game sense. He said the team should feel proud to have had a captain like Dhoni, who always did something unique and unexpected. He also highlighted Dhoni’s calm attitude on the field and the huge influence he had on Indian cricket and the IPL, both as a player and as a captain.
Murali Vijay began his international career in 2008 and went on to play 87 matches for India across formats, scoring 4,490 runs with 12 centuries. He retired from international cricket in 2023 and played his last IPL match in 2020. Vijay’s international journey included memorable Test performances, especially overseas, but he believes playing under Dhoni remains one of the most important experiences of his career.
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