MS Dhoni Is A Very Important Resource To The Leadership Group, says L Balaji

Former India captain MS Dhoni has joined India’s leadership group for the T20 World Cup. And, former India player, as well as Chennai Super Kings bowling coach Laxmipathy Balaji said, that it is a welcome addition to the team, stating that his brilliant decision-making skills and calmness will help them a lot to Virat Kohli’s team in the UAE as well.

While speaking to indiatoday.in, Balaji has said that Dhoni’s role as mentor of the team will only help the captain Virat Kohli and the head coach Ravi Shastri as India try to end a 7-year-long wait for their ICC trophy as well.

“I am very happy. India needs him (Dhoni) in big tournaments. In the recent past, there has been a question since 2013,” L Balaji said. “We have not won any big tournaments in the recent past. So they needed someone who can bring in that extra bit of calmness, guidance and decision-making skills. I feel MS Dhoni’s appointment is very big for Team India.”

He also stated that his influence will bring a lot of difference to the dressing room which will be vital. Notably, MS Dhoni was one of India’s most successful captains, who won the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. And, he is the only captain to have won all the ICC trophies so far.

Laxmipathy Balaji also shared that MS Dhoni’s calming influence will be a welcome addition to India’s leadership group. He again stated that India, which has been struggling at the knockout stages of major tournaments for a long time and MS Dhoni’s vast experience will certainly help the team with better decision-making in the UAE also.

However, India reached the semi-final of the T20 World Cup in 2016 under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. Later, Virat Kohli has led the team to a lot of major victories in the bilateral series but failed to win a single ICC trophy.

MS Dhoni is very good at intuitive decision-making: L Balaji

“Leadership is nowadays multiple roles. It can’t be one man. So Dhoni’s presence and his identity itself is huge. There is always preparation when it comes to pre-match meetings and post-match assessments. But MS Dhoni brings in decision making in the present. That’s where he is far ahead of the rest,” he said.

“When it comes to the World Cups, taking the right decisions at the right time makes a lot of difference. You might have one bad day and the opportunity is gone. All these little things make a huge difference. That’s why you need someone who has gone through all that. You can’t win trophies without going through that. There must be some science and ability to do that, which India needs at the World Cup,” he again added.

“At the moment, everybody is thinking about why this (India winning major trophies) is not happening. So probably, MS Dhoni is the right person for providing guidance. He will be looked at as an added resource for the Indian leadership group,” L Balaji explained.

“Indian cricket has been doing well. We have won Test series in Australia, we have done well in bilateral series. So MS Dhoni’s influence should be maximised to influencing youngsters and making match-winners out of the established guys on big days. It can’t be taught but when you have the right leader in the dressing room. Everybody is going to benefit from the calming influence Dhoni will provide in the dressing room,” L Balaji concluded.

Notably, Team India will begin their campaign on October 24 against their arch-rivals Pakistan.

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