When Simon Taufel Got Stumped By MS Dhoni's Cool And Calm Demeanor
Published - 29 Jul 2020, 11:36 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:32 AM
Simon Taufel, one of the greatest umpires this beautiful game has ever seen, recently recalled an anecdote involving former Indian captain MS Dhoni; one which made the Australian a big fan of Dhoni’s cool and calm demeanor.
Taufel recalled an incident from the 2010 Test series between India and South Africa in Cape Town where he was left stumped by Dhoni’s response after he warned him that the former captain could miss the next Test if Sreesanth continued taking 7-8 minutes in completing every over.
“We had come out of a Test match in Cape Town where one of my good friends Sreesanth had just finished playing a game there and we actually had to fine Dhoni for slow over-rate because Sree takes 7-8 minutes to bowl an over,” Simon Taufel said in a video posted by ‘The Cricket Edge’
“The umpires and MS Dhoni were sitting in the dressing room and we were talking to him about over rates. We told him if he breaks it again in the Test match in Durban, he is likely to have a holiday. He said, ‘that’s okay, I need a holiday, I would like to have a game off. But Sree is not playing this game so don’t worry’,” he added.
“He was sitting back on this black leather chair and he is more interested in the quality of the chair and thinking ‘I would like to take this chair home. And we are trying to talk to him about over rates and missing a game and he was so relaxed and so composed. That’s MS Dhoni for you,” Simon Taufel added.
Also Read- I’m Huge MS Dhoni Fan, Wanted To Play Under Him: Paul Valthaty
‘He is an incredible strategic thinker’- Simon Taufel on MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni, apart from his precocious talent as a wicketkeeper-batsman and his unmatchable record as Indian captain, has always been hailed for his ice-cool temperament, which he displayed even in the direst of situations.
Joining his long list of admirers is Simon Taufel, who hailed MSD as one of the smartest cricket minds he has ever come across.
“MS Dhoni is one of the smartest cricket minds that I have come across in the game of cricket. I don’t say that because he is Indian, I say that because that’s the way I see it. He is an incredible strategic thinker and got a great cricket brain. But he also has a great temperament and tremendous composure,” Simon Taufel said.
