MS Dhoni, renowned as one of India’s greatest cricket captains, had an intuitive ability to lead and a unique knack for reading the game from behind the stumps. One of his trusted bowlers during those captaincy days was Praveen Kumar, who played for India from 2007 to 2012, primarily under Dhoni’s captaincy. Kumar, known for his impressive swing with the new ball, was a genuine wicket-taker.
Hailing from Meerut, Kumar made his mark in 68 ODIs, claiming 77 wickets, and in six Test matches, he scalped 27 wickets at an average of 25.81. One of the highlights of his career was the CB Series final in 2008, where he played a pivotal role, taking 4/46 to help India defeat Australia in the second final and clinch the series in Brisbane, with Sachin Tendulkar contributing a crucial 91.
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Reflecting on Dhoni’s captaincy, Kumar, in an interview with the Lallantop Youtube channel, praised Dhoni’s unparalleled leadership skills, emphasizing how he knew exactly how to utilize his players.
Praveen Kumar thoughts on Dhoni’s Captaincy pic.twitter.com/Px5WZpVzsB
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“Mahi Bhai Ka Koi Jawaab Nahi. He knew how to use a player and when to use them,” said Praveen Kumar. “He used to set the field and ask the bowler to bowl. And that’s what a good captain is, who gives the ball to the bowler and only asks to bowl, then it is up to the bowler to understand what he has to bowl.”
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He further added, “Yes, as bowler you can of course tell the captain, for instance, where should the slips be placed, a bit wider or not because only the bowler knows after pitching how much the ball could swing, but apart from that he knew it (how to set fields),”
While Kumar acknowledged that bowlers could provide input on field placements, he highlighted Dhoni’s expertise in setting fields. Despite Kumar’s significant contributions during Dhoni’s captaincy, his international career faced a decline, and he played his last First-Class game in 2017. After going unpicked in the 2018 IPL Player auction, Kumar faced off-field incidents that led to negative press, and he gradually faded from the cricketing scene.
