MS Dhoni had led India to the title victory in the ICC World Cup 2011 with a remarkable innings in the final against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium. But, besides his pyrotechnics with the bat, it is his leadership qualities that sets him apart from his contemporaries in world cricket.
The India captain who has led the country to many highs has always led from the front and faced challenges head-on. New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming who is also the coach of the IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings that Dhoni leads, observed that captains should emulate what Dhoni did in the 2011 World Cup final by leading his pack with good skills and performances.
"I know that good captains grasp the nettle. Just look at the way MS Dhoni pushed himself up the batting order in the 2011 final as a prime example of that idea," Fleming wrote in a column for the International Cricket Council (ICC) website.
While chasing 275 in the final against Sri Lanka, Dhoni had promoted himself up the batting order after losing early wickets and scored a match-winning 91 not out to help India reclaim the trophy after more than a couple of decades.
The former left-handed batsman said that during his stint with CSK, Dhoni had told him the decision was an instinctive one. "Dhoni said it was an instinct that it was his time to lead from the front. Positivity and decisiveness like that can galvanise a team whereas hesitancy can flow through each player and create paralysis,” Fleming stated.
"In World Cups, where the matches come thick and fast and momentum and winning confidence can be crucial, that is a key point to remember,” Fleming pointed out.
