What Did AB de Villiers Say About Dhoni on His 44th Birthday?

New Delhi, July 7 (NationPress) On the 44th birthday of former India captain MS Dhoni, South African cricket icon AB de Villiers reflected on his experience as an intimidating competitor, acknowledging his remarkable career.

Dhoni's international legacy includes three prestigious ICC titles: the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy, in addition to numerous bilateral and continental victories.

“Planning against MS Dhoni was incredibly challenging. When he was in form, nothing seemed effective. We eventually realized that wide seam deliveries could sometimes work, especially in the latter part of his innings. It was a gamble; occasionally it succeeded, and other times it didn’t.

“The man's class is undeniable—few strategies were effective against him. I hold immense respect for his accomplishments throughout his career. He truly was a formidable player to face. What a phenomenal career he enjoyed,” de Villiers expressed during JioHotstar's ‘7 Shades of MS Dhoni’.

Kiran More, former India selector and cricketer, reminisced about his first impression of Dhoni, noting the spark he saw in the wicketkeeper-batsman, sensing something extraordinary about him.

“Back then, our batting lineup featured legends like Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and VVS Laxman, along with Yuvraj Singh. But we required an aggressive player who could hit fours and sixes, make runs quickly in the Powerplay, and excel during the middle overs.

“We were in search of someone capable of hitting sixes and boundaries — that kind of aggressive talent was scarce. The top players were all quite similar. However, MS Dhoni’s power-hitting was precisely the different dynamic we needed to balance our batting order.

“If you aim to score 100 runs in 10 overs, you can. We had given opportunities to various wicketkeepers, but the spark we noticed in Dhoni made me believe he was special and unique. We were taking a risk. He was raw. From there, we selected him and provided him a chance,” he conveyed.

Mohammad Kaif, former India batsman, reflected on Dhoni’s iconic debut performance against Pakistan during India’s tour in 2005 and the surprising decision to promote him in the batting order.

“Matches against Pakistan are always high-pressure encounters - Ganguly thought it wise to elevate MS Dhoni up the order. He could provide a quick burst of runs. No one anticipated he would score 140. The first surprise was seeing him at number three. Then he began to hit. Initially, we believed he couldn’t play lengthy innings. How mistaken we were! As his innings unfolded, he kept striking - against spinners and fast bowlers, he was relentless.

“After the Powerplay, he maintained his aggressive play, rotating the strike and scoring more. He understood the necessity to play swiftly, but also recognized that a rapid 30 wasn’t sufficient. He knew this was a do-or-die match. If he failed at number three, he wouldn’t get more opportunities since he had already had a few. He didn’t crumble under pressure; he played his natural game,” he reflected.

Dhoni was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame last month alongside Hashim Amla, Matthew Hayden, Graeme Smith, Daniel Vettori, Sana Mir, and Sarah Taylor.

Across formats, Dhoni amassed 17,266 runs, achieved 829 dismissals as a wicketkeeper, and participated in 538 international matches — a testament to his consistency, fitness, and longevity.

“It is a privilege to be acknowledged in the ICC Hall of Fame, which honors the contributions of cricketers from various eras and regions globally. Having my name alongside such legendary figures is a remarkable feeling. It’s a memory I will treasure forever,” Dhoni once stated.

While Dhoni has retired from all forms of international cricket, he remains active with the IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings, which he has led to five championships.

“Happy birthday to @msdhoni, an extraordinary individual who transformed pressure into poetry with each move. You demonstrated that greatness isn’t innate; it’s cultivated — one decision, one run, one quiet triumph at a time,” Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin conveyed his heartfelt wishes to Dhoni on his birthday.