Pakistan coach Misbah-ul-Haq said M.S. Dhoni had “changed the whole face of Indian cricket” after the former captain announced his international retirement on Saturday, reports AFP.
Dhoni, a 39-year-old wicketkeeper and batsman, is India’s most successful skipper, having played a starring role in their 2011 World Cup final win on home soil and also guided them to victory in the inaugural T20 World Cup final and the Champions Trophy.
“He’s a big name in Indian cricket, he’s served Indian cricket very well,” Misbah, who played against Dhoni, told AFP after the third day’s play in the second Test between England and Pakistan at Southampton was washed out.
Misbah added Dhoni, known for his unflappable demeanour at the crease, had altered the mentality of the Indian team.
“One of the greats I think, the way he changed the approach and especially he achieved so much for Indian cricket, winning the World Cup, winning the Champions Trophy, winning the T20 World Cup,” said Misbah.
“He’s got all the trophies in his bag,” added the former batsman, a member of the Pakistan side that suffered a dramatic five-run defeat by arch-rivals India in the 2007 World Twenty20 final in Johannesburg.
