Ashwin Opens Up On Dhoni’s Wankhede Moment

Ravichandran Ashwin shared an intriguing facet of MS Dhoni‘s captaincy. He tells how the former India skipper maintained a watchful eye on bowlers who were approaching five-wicket figures during Test matches and purposefully extended their periods against lower-order batsmen to help them attain that mark.

Dhoni demonstrated a sympathetic approach to acknowledging individual accomplishments by paying attention to such situations in a manner that went beyond regular captaincy.

The famed off-spinner, who announced his retirement from international cricket in December 2024, stated that, while most captains are aware of these opportunities, Dhoni’s execution was constantly excellent.

“When there’s a five-wicket haul on the line, I don’t generally ask for the ball. Interestingly, MS Dhoni always kept an eye on these things. Once, he even apologised to me.

After taking four wickets at Wankhede, he pulled me from the attack. I was standing at point as the innings and Test match concluded, and he removed the stumps. After removing the stumps, he looked at the scoreboard and noticed I had four wickets. Then he asked, “Oh, you were on four wickets?” Sorry, guy.

So, yes, captains do keep an eye on these things. “If a bowler has four wickets, they usually give him another spell against the tail-enders,” he told JioStar.

Why Dhoni’s conscience was vital off the pitch.

The narrative captures Dhoni’s demeanour during and after the contest. After the game, the former Chennai Super Kings skipper made a determined effort to admit his error, demonstrating genuine appreciation for a bowler’s personal success.

Ashwin concluded his Test career in international cricket with 37 five-wicket hauls, ranking him joint-fourth all-time.

His appraisal emphasises a lesser-known aspect of Dhoni’s leadership that extended beyond tactical decisions made during play. His leadership style was influenced by his recognition of individual accomplishments and willingness to help bowlers at critical periods in their careers.

Such captaincy backing was essential for a cricket player aiming for a significant record in the high-pressure environment of Test cricket.