MS Dhoni, India’s iconic former captain, is often hailed for nurturing the talent that led them to recent T20 World Cup victory. Virat Kohli, a star of the current team, flourished under Dhoni’s leadership. Interestingly, both Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who thrived under Dhoni, announced their retirement from T20Is after the World Cup win.

The story takes on a deeper meaning when we consider a recent revelation by former Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal. Akmal spoke about an incident during Pakistan’s 2012-13 tour of India, where Dhoni’s unwavering faith in Kohli played a pivotal role.

Back then, Virat Kohli was struggling in the ODIs. Akmal, during a talk show on Geo News, stated that the Team India manager suggested dropping Kohli for the final match. However, Dhoni stood firm.

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“I was having dinner with MS Dhoni in 2013,” Kamran Akmal recounted. “Dhoni replied saying, ‘I haven’t gone home for six months. Why don’t you book my tickets too along with Virat’s?’ Then the manager allowed him to play whoever he wanted.”

All those Virat Kohli fans who hate MS Dhoni ,See how Dhoni supported Kohli in his bad times.
Former Pakistan player Umar Akmal told how Dhoni supported Virat Kohli in his lean patch and saved him from being dropped from the team.#ViratKohli #ViratKohli𓃵 #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/UUaUxbuwjv

— Sandarbh Raj Gupta (@Sandarbh_raj8) June 29, 2024

MS Dhoni’s belief in Virat Kohli’s potential, even during a slump, is evident. “Virat is our best batter. Why should we drop him if he fails for 3-4 games?” Akmal quoted Dhoni as saying.

This unwavering support from Dhoni appears to have paid off in spades. A year later, Kohli took over the Test captaincy from Dhoni, and they shared the dressing room for years to come.

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Fast forward to 2024: Virat Kohli, under his own leadership, lifted the T20 World Cup trophy in Barbados, proving Dhoni’s faith right. This victory marks the culmination of years of dedication, nurtured by Dhoni’s foresight and unwavering trust. It’s a testament to the impact a leader can have on shaping a player’s destiny.