ENG vs AUS: Moeen Ali declares MS Dhoni and England legend as greatest captains he's played under

Moeen Ali played under some of the legendary captains during his illustrious career, but nobody could match the legacy and impact that MS Dhoni and Eoin Morgan had on the former England all-rounder. Moeen, who recently announced retirement from international cricket, showered rich praise on the former England captain and former Indian captain.

The former England all-rounder has named MS Dhoni and Eoin Morgan as the greatest captains he has ever played under. Having announced his retirement from international cricket after being left out of England's squad for the white-ball series against Australia, Moeen reflected on his journey.

Moeen Ali hails MS Dhoni and Eoin Morgan as the greatest captains

Over the years, the legendary cricketer represented England in 68 Tests, 138 ODIs, and 92 T20Is, amassing an impressive 6,678 runs and claiming 366 wickets across all formats. Yet, it wasn’t just his personal achievements that defined his career, but also the strong leadership he played under.

In a recent conversation with the media following his retirement announcement, Moeen Ali offered insight into the players who shaped his career. As the heart of England's white-ball resurgence, Eoin Morgan emerged as one of Mooen’s greatest inspirations.

Eoin Morgan, who guided England to their historic 2019 World Cup victory, was not just a tactical genius but also a captain, who instilled unshakable belief in his players. Moeen credited Morgan’s leadership as the reason behind England’s transformation into a dominant force in world cricket.

However, what made Moeen’s reflections even more compelling was the inclusion of Dhoni as his only second-greatest captain. Even though Dhoni was not Moeen’s captain in the international arena, their bond at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) left a lasting impression.

'You'd run through brick walls for him' - Moeen Ali

Playing under Dhoni, Moeen witnessed the calm, tactical brilliance, and unflappable demeanor that made the legendary wicketkeeper-batter one of the most respected and successful captains in the history of the game. The Englishman’s time at CSK highlighted the deep respect and admiration he held for the Indian legend, who guided CSK to five IPL titles.

Moeen’s journey was shaped by these two iconic leaders. Whether it was Morgan’s aggressive approach and trust in his players or Dhoni’s ice-cool temperament under pressure, they pushed Moeen to perform at his best. His tribute to the legendary captains serves as a testament to the powerful role leadership plays in shaping careers and legacies.

Moeen Ali said in a video posted by England Cricket on X: “Yeah, him (Eoin Morgan), and I would have to say MS Dhoni, obviously. But obviously for England, yeah, Morgan was outstanding. Unbelievable captain, leader, had everything that a great leader has and all the attributes that are needed to be what he achieved. And yeah, it was unbelievable. You'd run through brick walls for him.”

MO 🤝 Mahi! 💛🥳#WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/MmkN47LJyJ

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) September 10, 2024

Moeen Ali mentioned that MS Dhoni is the best captain he played under along with Eoin Morgan ofc.#MSDhoni #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/BwedpNXsAc

— Vibhor (@Vibhor4CSK) September 8, 2024

Notably, Moeen won the 2019 ODI World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup with England. He also finished his career with 204 wickets as the third-best England spinner in Test cricket after Derek Underwood (297) and Graeme Swann (255). His last appearance for England was in the T20 World Cup 2024.