"Sourav Hadn't Seen...": Saba Karim Reveals Why Sourav Ganguly Didn't Pick MS Dhoni For 2004 Pakistan Tour

Former India wicketkeeper and selector Saba Karim has opened up on MS Dhoni’s inspirational journey in the game and why he was snubbed by Sourav Ganguly for the tour of Pakistan in 2004.

Saba Karim watched MS Dhoni’s rise in the game from very close quarters. The former India skipper was yet to make his debut for Team India when Karim got a chance to work with him as a selector of the Bihar Ranji team. Speaking on JioCinema, the former cricketer recalled that although there were some issues with MS Dhoni’s footwork, he was instantly impressed by his talent, especially batting.

MS Dhoni did not take long to correct his mistakes and went on to become one of India’s most decorated cricketers. He made his India debut in 2004 and became an indispensable part of the team across formats. In 2007, he led India to a historic triumph in the T20 World Cup and soon became the captain of the ODI and Test teams too.

“My story is very interesting. The first time I saw MS Dhoni, it was his second year in the Ranji Trophy. He used to play for Bihar. I saw him batting and keeping, and I still remember while he was batting, he had that brilliance which we even saw later, playing big lofted shots to a spinner or a pace bowler.

“Even for wicket-keeping, the footwork that one should have, was lacking a bit. We worked with him on this at that time, and he still remembered what he was taught then. When we used to chat, he used to speak about it. It was a turning point in MS’s career where he actually got going,” said Karim.

Saba Karim Reveals Why Sourav Ganguly Didn’t Pick MS Dhoni

Speaking further, Saba Karim revealed why Sourav Ganguly decided against picking MS Dhoni in the team under his captaincy for the tour of Pakistan in 2003/04. MS Dhoni had proved himself in the domestic circuit as well as while playing for India A but failed to make the cut for the tour.

“I even remember I was in Calcutta at that time, and Sourav (Ganguly) was the captain. I went to meet him and I told him there is this keeper who should come into the Indian team because he was batting so well and was such a safe keeper.

“Unfortunately, Sourav hadn’t seen MS play just before we toured Pakistan, and he wasn’t selected for that tour. But he was after that,” said Karim.

MS Dhoni did not have to wait for long to make his India debut. In December 2004, he played his first game for India against Bangladesh and became a key member of the team soon.