‘He Has Led From The Front:’ Wasim Akram’s Million-Dollar Praise For MS Dhoni

Legendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram expressed his admiration for MS Dhoni, who celebrated his 43rd birthday on July 7. Akram spoke highly of Dhoni’s match-winning ability during an interaction on Sportskeeda’s Match Ki Baat podcast. According to Akram, Dhoni has helped India win many matches not only with his leadership skills but also with his batting and wicketkeeping.

“As a cricketer, he has won the World Cup, and Champions Trophy – all the major (white-ball) trophies. On and off the field, he has led from the front. He has won matches with his batting, keeping and captaincy," Akram said.

Wasim Akram further shed light on MS Dhoni’s immense popularity in every part of the country. The former Pakistan cricketer felt that there are very few cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma who have the same stature as Dhoni in India.

“Wherever he goes, be it Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Punjab, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, the stadium erupts. And it must, why not? There has never been such a cricketer, such a captain in India. If Dhoni doesn’t get such a reception, then who will get it? Sachin used to get it, Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma – these are four big names in Indian cricket. Dhoni definitely deserves the kind of adulation that he gets," Wasim Akram explained.

One of the finest captains ever to lead the Indian cricketer team, MS Dhoni is the only player to lift all three ICC trophies as a leader of the side. He won the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007 before becoming the ODI World Cup champion four years later on home soil. Under his captaincy, India also clinched the Champions Trophy in 2013 by beating England in the final.

MS Dhoni celebrated his 43rd birthday with his wife Sakshi and some of his friends yesterday. Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was also part of the late-night celebration.

MS Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket in 2020. In the very next year, he led Chennai Super Kings to their fourth Indian Premier League (IPL) title. Dhoni replicated the success last year.