MS Dhoni, the former Indian skipper is one of the finest skippers ever produced by Indian cricket. But, it all started from T20 World Cup 2007 when he was picked as the captain of the national side by the selectors for the first time. Sanjay Jagdale, who was part of the selection committee reveals a conversation with the former Indian skipper that left him stunned for a while.
India was going through time back in 2007. Although, they had stars like Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, and Rahul Dravid. The Indian team was going through a rough patch after getting knocked out in the first round of World Cup 2007. Later on, the senior players backed out from participating in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup. However, it turned out to be a historical event for Men in Blue. The selection committee had no choice but to pick a young side and announced MS Dhoni as the skipper. And, this decision totally changed the dynamics of Indian cricket.
MS Dhoni Showed Enough Confidence Ahead Of 2007 T20 World Cup: Sanjay Jagdale
Sanjay Jagdale said that he was with Team India in England for the ODI series. And, the senior players told him not to consider them for the showpiece event.
“This was 2007 and I was a selector. And I was with the Indian team in England, and we were having a one-day series. Dilip [Vengsarkar] was chairman…and we had a meeting for selecting the World Cup 2007 team,” Jagdale said in an interview with Sportskeeda.
“So Sachin, Sourav and Rahul had told us, ‘Don’t consider us.’ So we picked a new team, a very young team. And I was in London, I had given my opinion, and Dhoni became captain for the first time,” Jagdale added.
After the conclusion of the seventh ODI, he quizzed MS Dhoni if Team India can win the tournament or not. To which former Indian skipper replied with confidence that they will return with the trophy from South Africa. Afterward, Dhoni scripted history by winning the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 World Cup, and ICC Champions Trophy.
“So after the seventh one day was over, I still recollect in the dressing room I told MS, ‘This is a good team.’ And he said, ‘Sir, World Cup jeet ke ayenge (Sir, we will come back with the World Cup).’ I was shocked just seeing the confidence,” Jagdale concluded.
