When Sourav Ganguly Promoted MS Dhoni Up The Order

In the young days of MS Dhoni’s International career, Sourav Ganguly had promoted him up the order. In fact, Dhoni didn’t have the best of starts to his career while batting down the order.

Therefore, Ganguly spotted the skills in Dhoni and gave him a chance to express himself while batting at the top of the order. Subsequently, Dhoni was able to come up with the match-winning performances. Thus, it helped Dhoni in cementing his place in the Indian team.

Ganguly gave an opportunity to MS Dhoni to bat at number three for India.

Dhoni had a quiet start to his career. However, he was promoted up the order and he grabbed his chances with both his hands.

Sourav Ganguly shared his thoughts while speaking to Gaurav Kapor on latter’s show, Breakfast with Champions.

“When Dhoni came into the side in 2004, he played at No.7 in the first two matches. We went to Vizag (vs Pakistan) I was watching the news and wondering how could make a player out of Dhoni. He had great potential”.

Ganguly went on to add that he decided to give MS Dhoni a chance to bat at the top of the order. Dhoni was not getting many deliveries and Ganguly presented with a chance to go out in the middle and take on the opposition.

“The next day in the morning, we did our warm-ups, did the toss, won it and decided to bat. While coming back I decided I will send him up the order. We’ll see what the result is. He was sitting in shorts because he knew he would bat at No.7. I told him to go up at No.3 and he asked ‘what about you?’ I said ‘I will bat at No.4’. And he went and scored 148. That is how you players are made,” Ganguly said.

Sourav Ganguly went on to add that he feels proud that MS Dhoni has achieved great heights in his career. In fact, MS Dhoni became the third Indian player to play his 500th International match recently.

“Dhoni is very courageous. I feel happy seeing MS because when we started playing cricket there was no cricketer from the east. No players used to play and used to think there won’t be a player this side. And we both captained so many matches, we played so many matches. T20 wasn’t there in our time. I played approximately 450 matches. That day in Cardiff MS played his 500th. I feel good because a part of India where not many cricketers came from, 2 captains came from that side. Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni that’s the proud moment,” Ganguly concluded.

Here is the episode of Sourav Ganguly talking about MS Dhoni to Gaurav Kapoor.