MS Dhoni is India's best-ever captain: Gautam Gambhir's surprising tribute to India great on his birthday stuns fans

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir extended birthday wishes to legendary wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni, who turned 43 on Sunday, July 7. Gautam Gambhir praised MS Dhoni for his leadership skills, calling him the best captain the India National Cricket Team has ever had in the history of the game.

MS Dhoni is considered the most successful Indian captain in white-ball cricket. Dhoni led the Men in Blue to victories at the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy. The veteran batter also guided the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to five titles in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Jharkhand-born cricketer scored 10773 runs in 350 ODIs at an average of 50.57 and a strike rate of 87.56, including 10 centuries and 73 fifties. He also represented India in 90 Tests and 98 T20Is, scoring 4876 and 1617 runs, respectively. Dhoni won the "Player of the Match" award in the ODI World Cup 2011 final.

He's Probably The Best Captain India Has Ever Had - Gautam Gambhir

In a video shared by Star Sports on X (formerly Twitter), Gautam Gambhir highlighted MS Dhoni's unmatched record of leading India to two ICC World Cups and one Champions Trophy. Gambhir stated that he shared the biggest moments in various tournaments under Dhoni's captaincy.

“Lots of captains will come and go but it will be hard to match MS Dhoni's record for the Indian team. You can become number 1 in Tests, you can win overseas matches. But to lift two ICC World Cups and one Champions Trophy, there is no bigger achievement than this," Gambhir said.

“We shared the biggest moments together, I was part of those moments. Whether being a part of the T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup, winning the CB series in Australia, winning Test series in New Zealand, drawing Test series in South Africa, winning the Asia Cup, I can't mention one. He's probably the best captain India has ever had,” he added.

I Men MS Dhoni In 2004 - Irfan Pathan

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan recalled his first encounter with a young MS Dhoni in 2004 during a match with India A. Pathan said that he realized Dhoni was a special batsman after being smashed by him. Pathan also shared that Dhoni has a mischievous personality, something not widely known about him.

“When I met him in 2004 during a match with the India A. He pulled a bouncer of my ball and I understood this batsman is special. We used to laugh about a lot of things. People don't know this but MS Dhoni is a very mischievous person,” Patha said.

Born on July 7, 1981, MS Dhoni came from humble beginnings to become one of cricket's most celebrated stars. Despite retiring from international cricket, he continues to be beloved by fans for his down-to-earth personality. Every year, his birthday is enthusiastically celebrated by fans throughout India.