Former India captain Sourav Ganguly recently discussed the changes in MS Dhoni’s batting style, particularly recalling the explosive version of Dhoni that entered the International scene.
Ganguly acknowledged that while Dhoni became one of India’s top captains and finishers, he personally preferred the “Phase 1” version of the wicketkeeper-batter.
“I have rarely seen a player who hits a six like MS Dhoni. When he joined the Indian team under my captaincy, he hit a lot of sixes. I didn’t like the later version of MS Dhoni as much; I liked the early one,” Ganguly shared on a podcast with Raj Shamani.
Dhoni debuted for India in 2004 when Ganguly was the captain and soon became famous for his fearless approach and ability to hit big sixes. Ganguly reminisced about Dhoni’s early days when he aggressively took on bowlers from the start.
Regarding the differences between the two phases, Ganguly noted that a younger Dhoni played with more freedom and aggression.
“He used to hit sixes just for fun whenever he picked up the bat. I wasn’t a fan of the later version, where he focused on singles and doubles. Regardless, he became a significant player and captain for India,” he added.
Watch the clip here –