Cricket

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has heaped praise on former Indian skipper MS Dhoni, describing him as "intuitive, instinctive," and a natural leader. Tendulkar revealed that he had recommended Dhoni for the captaincy in 2007, recognizing his exceptional qualities.After India's disappointing performance in the 2007 50-over World Cup, Tendulkar was offered the captaincy. However, he declined due to his physical condition. Instead, he suggested Dhoni's name to then BCCI president Sharad Pawar."I said, 'My body is in terrible shape, I do not think a captain who will now and then go to the dressing room and have his ankle strapped or some treatment on his shoulder and all that, it is not the right thing to happen to our team,'" Tendulkar recalled.Tendulkar had observed Dhoni's leadership skills firsthand while fielding in the slips. "Invariably, I would ask him, 'What would you have done right now?' And the answers were balanced. He is very intuitive; he is instinctive, and the awareness of that given moment is remarkable," Tendulkar said."His mind is very stable, he is calm, he is instinctive, and he makes the right decisions. At that time, I recommended him to the BCCI President and said, 'I see leadership qualities in him, so you should consider him,'" Sachin added.Dhoni's legacy as a captain is unparalleled. He is the only captain to have won all three major ICC titles: the T20 World Cup, the Cricket World Cup, and the Champions Trophy. Additionally, he has led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to five IPL titles and two Champions League T20 titles.Despite stepping down as CSK captain this season, Dhoni's influence remains evident. In their IPL opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore, he was seen actively assisting new captain Ruturaj Gaikwad in setting field positions.CSK's next match will be against last year's runners-up, the Gujarat Titans, in Chennai on March 26.

Rob Key, England's managing director, believes that Andrew Flintoff possesses exceptional leadership qualities and would be an ideal candidate for the England head coach position in the future. Key, a close friend of Flintoff, played a pivotal role in his return to the public eye after a serious accident in 2022.Flintoff's involvement with the England team has gradually increased since his initial unpaid role during the New Zealand series last year. He has since mentored the England Lions and is now part of the back-room staff for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.Key believes that Flintoff's personal experiences, both on and off the field, have equipped him with the emotional intelligence and empathy that are essential for effective leadership. He compares Flintoff to Ben Stokes, another former England captain known for his ability to connect with players and inspire them."Flintoff is a leader like Stokes," Key said. "He knows what it's like to struggle and come out the other end. He can relate to players and understand their challenges. He has high emotional intelligence and knows when to offer support or provide blunt honesty."Flintoff's role with England will extend into the ODI series against Pakistan before the T20 World Cup. Key sees this as a valuable opportunity for Flintoff to gain further experience in team management and squad assembly. He hopes that other former players, such as Moeen Ali and Eoin Morgan, can also be integrated into the coaching setup in the future."Flintoff is on a brilliant journey in his coaching development," Key said. "He's gaining practical experience in various roles, which is more valuable than theoretical knowledge. We want to create opportunities for former players with these skills to learn and contribute to the team."

Ravichandran Ashwin's profound admiration for Rohit Sharma extends beyond his exceptional leadership skills to his compassionate and humane qualities. This became evident during the third Test in Rajkot when Ashwin's mother, Chitra, was hospitalized.In a society where self-interest often prevails, Rohit's leadership shines through with his empathy and generosity. Ashwin believes these qualities inspire teammates to give their all for him. This sentiment is particularly poignant for Ashwin, who had to hastily return to Chennai shortly after achieving his 500th Test wicket.Recalling the harrowing 48 hours, Ashwin described the emotional turmoil he experienced. "I was crying in my room and couldn't think clearly," he said. "I was torn between my duty to the team and my desire to be with my mother."Rohit's response was extraordinary. He urged Ashwin to leave the squad and be with his family, even arranging a charter flight for him. Ashwin also expressed gratitude to Cheteshwar Pujara, who accompanied him to Chennai.However, it was Rohit's request to team physio Kamlesh Jain to accompany Ashwin that left him overwhelmed. "Rohit asked Kamlesh to travel with me and check on me during this tough time," Ashwin said. "It was 9:30 pm, and I was gobsmacked. I couldn't even think about it."Ashwin acknowledged that he would have allowed a player to return home in a similar situation but questioned whether he would have gone to such lengths to arrange a charter flight or ask a support staff member to check on him. "I saw an outstanding leader in Rohit that day," he said.Ashwin believes that Rohit's IPL achievements are on par with MS Dhoni's, but he believes that God has bigger plans for him. "He's won five IPL titles and is on par with Dhoni, but he should get something bigger than all that," he said.Ashwin's respect for Rohit grew immensely after the gesture. "In a selfish society, thinking for someone else's wellbeing is a rarity," he said. "My respect for him grew tremendously after that."Ashwin concluded by emphasizing the bond between Rohit and his teammates. "He takes 10 steps for a player, and a player can give his life for him," he said.