MANCHESTER: A “mentor without being assertive” was how Virat Kohli Monday described Mahendra Singh Dhoni, whose seamless transition from a two-time World Cup winning skipper to just another player in the team earned him “sky-high respect” from his successor.
Playing in his last World Cup, Dhoni has been a mentor to all the current players including the skipper himself, and all of them are fiercely loyal towards the former skipper.
“From the respect point of view for MS, it’s always going to be sky high, especially in my eyes, because I know how difficult it can be to make a transition from captaining also,” Kohli’s reply to a question on the former skipper was filled with admiration.
“It’s not easy to be another player in the side after captaining it for decades and therein lies Dhoni’s greatness. Being a mentor but without being assertive, which the team acknowledges.”
The batting mainstay took over the Test reins from Dhoni in December 2014 and the limited overs captaincy in January 2017.
“You know, within the same team, just playing as a player after being captain for so many years and still not being too assertive or too pushy in anything. He gives you space to make your own decisions and to actually discover yourself, so I think that’s been his biggest quality,” Kohli said.
Getting Dhoni’s inputs is pure gold and a privilege that he has enjoyed as a skipper, according to Kohli. (AGENCIES)
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