File photo: Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni (TOI image)
New Delhi: Long before he became one of India’s most successful captains, Sourav Ganguly was quietly tracking MS Dhoni, who has now revealed how the wicket-keeper batsman was rushed through the system after impressing the then India captain.Speaking on Raj Chamani podcast, Ganguly said Dhoni’s rise was not accidental. The former skipper personally traveled to Jamshedpur to watch him in action in domestic cricket before the final selection call was made.
Watch Ganguly Dhoni before selectionGanguly revealed that he delayed the decision on Dhoni’s inclusion until he could evaluate it himself. “I had to see him before taking the final call. So, I put that decision on hold for a few days,” he said.The visit convinced him. “We watch the entire matches. When Dhoni was playing, I had gone to Jamshedpur to watch him.
“He didn’t know even then,” Ganguly added, recalling how carefully the management monitored budding talent.The former captain also credited former selector Saba Karim for first highlighting Dhoni’s powerful batting. “Saba Karim told me he hits a lot of sixes.” So we picked him right from there for the India A team. He played his first match at Wankhede Stadium as part of my team. “He made a hundred and was hitting a six on the roof,” Ganguly said.
What do you think of the fast-track approach to exceptional talent in sports?
“Everyone who is good has to fast track.”That innings in India removed any remaining doubt. Ganguly said the management believes that exceptional players should not be hampered in the system.
“We had to bring him in. Any good person has to be fast tracked. You can’t leave him. If you keep cooking him slowly from behind, he will be gone,” Ganguly said, explaining the philosophy that shaped India’s transformation during his leadership.Dhoni’s ODI debut came against Bangladesh in Chattogram in December 2004 and ended in disappointment when he was run out for a duck. But Ganguly remained convinced. Months later, he promoted Dhoni to first place.
3 against Pakistan in Visakhapatnam. Dhoni smashed 148 out of 123 balls, announcing himself on the international stage.The principle is simple: “If you play with people above your level, your level will go up. If you play with people below your level, your level will go down,” Ganguly said.This belief has helped shape the careers of players like Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh,
Virender Sehwag
– Most notably Donnie.