MS Dhoni is not just a name in cricket history; It speaks of an aura. A man coming from a tier-3 city with long hair, unconventional shots and big dreams, he stood out from other young cricketers of his time. With his mind three times sharper on the field and his bat power ten times sharper, MSD had the ability to send any ball out of the field. No matter how much we talk about the man, it is never enough and that is what we saw when former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly shared his special feelings about Dhoni.
Looking at his journey, it is hard to believe that a boy from Ranchi could become a phenomenal cricketer to be remembered for generations globally.
Sourav Ganguly getting nostalgic: Remembering the “old” MSD
However, there was another man with a similar background of patience and sporting knowledge, Sourav Ganguly.
From the day “Dada” chose MSD, he became a fan of the great cricketer. Recently, in an interview, the former Indian captain expressed his nostalgia and said that he likes “young Dhoni” more than “mature Dhoni”. Ganguly admitted that he had not seen many players who could hit sixes with such effortless style and ease. For Dada, seeing young Dhoni achieve success was no less than a dream.
“I like the young Dhoni more than the mature Dhoni because I haven’t seen many players who can hit sixes with such ease,” Ganguly said at the TV9 WITT Summit.
The Breakthrough: Dhoni’s transformation in the era of Sourav Ganguly
The history of Indian cricket changed when Sourav Ganguly showed immense faith in Dhoni. Dhoni failed to make an impact in his first few international matches against Bangladesh, leading many to doubt his place. However, Ganguly backed him for the series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
In a move that changed the direction of cricket, Ganguly asked Dhoni to bat at number three. This promotion resulted in a explosive innings of 148 runs, which laid the foundation of Dhoni’s reputation as an explosive player. While Ganguly nurtured this ability, this phase marked Dhoni’s transformation into a world-class finisher. As The Sentinel noted, Ganguly recognized Dhoni’s “rare” ability to hit big shots early in his career and provided the right environment for him to flourish.
Is this MS Dhoni’s last IPL season?
After playing a key role in India’s epic T20 World Cup win in 2026 by supporting the Men in Blue from the stands with former World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma in the semi-finals and final against England and New Zealand. Thala is all set to wow his fans once again in the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with his all-time favorite franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK). However, according to news and reports, considering his age and the fitness required for the game, this could be the great player’s last season.
As we enter the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League in 2026, the world is once again asking the same question: Is this Dhoni’s last season? Even after many years of retirement from international cricket, the craze for “Thala” remains unmatched. Whether he is keeping wickets at lightning speed or hitting those iconic sixes in the final overs, Dhoni continues to prove that even though he has matured, the “explosive” DNA that grandfather once instilled in him is still very much alive.
Dhoni’s presence is already enough to make any team strong, and his presence at the CSK pavilion will definitely boost the morale of the young players and make them lift the trophy and send them off on a high note. Chennai Super Kings will be seen playing their first match of the season against Rajasthan Royals on March 30 in Guwahati.
Also read: Sanju Samson gets a bigger role, Ruturaj Gaikwad confirms CSK openers for IPL 2026
