Former Indian cricket team opener Murali Vijay has heaped praise on the enduring legacy of ex-captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, emphasising his natural leadership and game-changing instinct. Vijay specifically highlighted Dhoni's legendary decision to hand the ball to Joginder Sharma for the final over of the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup, a move that sealed India's historic victory.
Dhoni's Instinct Over Logic: The 2007 Final Masterstroke
Speaking on fellow cricketer Taruwar Kohli's YouTube channel, Vijay delved into the mindset that makes Dhoni a one-of-a-kind leader. He recalled the tense final over of the 2007 World Cup against Pakistan, where Dhoni bypassed senior spinner Harbhajan Singh to give the ball to the less-experienced Joginder Sharma.
"He gave that last over to Joginder, and we won it. There may not have been logic as Harbhajan had an over as a senior. But it won us the cup as he did something out of the box," Vijay stated. He expressed immense national pride, adding, "We all should be proud that he was born in our country."
A 'Unique' Personality with Unmatched Hitting Prowess
Vijay, who played under Dhoni's captaincy for eight seasons at Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, described the wicketkeeper-batter as an irreplaceable force. "Dhoni is natural and very unique. Those personalities you cannot replicate. Anybody cannot come and do what he is doing," he remarked.
He also marvelled at Dhoni's legendary power-hitting, particularly as a right-hander. "The way he has dominated and taken the game, he was a very strong person. The way he launched those sixes, I don't think anyone else got that range as a right-hander," the former Test specialist said.
Dhoni's IPL Future and Vijay's Career Highlights
The news comes as MS Dhoni, who now plays exclusively in the Indian Premier League, has confirmed his continuation with the Chennai Super Kings for the 2025 season. This extends his iconic association with the franchise where he has led from the front for over a decade.
Reflecting on his own career, Murali Vijay's international journey began in 2008 when he replaced Gautam Gambhir in the Nagpur Test against Australia. He went on to represent India in 87 international matches, comprising:
- 61 Test matches
- 17 One Day Internationals (ODIs)
- 9 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is)
His final appearance for India was in the 2018 Perth Test against Australia. Domestically, he last played for Tamil Nadu in 2019, with his professional swansong occurring in the IPL in September 2020.
Vijay's career statistics stand as a testament to his solid technique at the top of the order. In international cricket, he scored 4,490 runs at an average of 34.80, registering 12 centuries and 16 half-centuries. In the IPL, representing teams like CSK and others, he amassed 2,619 runs in 106 matches at an average of 25.93.
Vijay's insights offer a valuable glimpse into the captaincy genius of MS Dhoni, whose legacy continues to inspire long after his international retirement, now carried forward in the arena of the IPL.
