Exclusive - Greg Chappell Helped MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina; Grateful To Him: S Sreesanth

S Sreesanth has shown the positive side of former India coach Greg Chappell, something which no Indian cricketer has ever spoken about. Team India disrupted as an unit under the coaching of Greg Chappell. His two-year stint between 2005 to 2007 saw the national team in its worst shape.

Players were not happy with his management, he had a spat with captain Sourav Ganguly, and many still voice their opinions against him, including the likes of veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh. Senior players often complained that Chappell had implemented the divide and rule policy in the team.

Greg Chappell helped MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina; don’t know how many people will speak: S Sreesanth

S Sreesanth started his career under Greg Chappell. He remains grateful to him for making a Kerala player believe that he can win matches for India. Sreesanth said that Chappell also helped players like MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina during his time, but unsure whether anyone will openly speak about it.

“On personal note, he has helped me a lot, to make me understand Dennis Lillee respects you and appreciates you, even that one line it always motivated me. A lot of people won’t like what I will say because he has been thrown out of proportion, especially when I was making a comeback, maybe this might backfire me. I’m not supporting Greg Chappell but I’m really grateful to that man, who made a Kerala cricketer realise, you can win matches for the country,” Sreesanth told CricketAddictor.

“And not just me, MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and a lot of people. I don’t know how many people will openly speak but I just wants to say, I’ve seen it, that man really helped me, especially in the Pakistan series he said you’re playing in the five matches and Rahul bhai (Rahul Dravid) was also there,” he added.

Sreesanth has 87 Test wickets and 75 ODI wickets to his name.