Former CSK wicketkeeper batsman Sam Billings chose his all-time best batsman, bowler, wicketkeeper and captain, and he surprisingly did not choose his former captain MS Dhoni in any of the following categories.
Chennai Super Kings is honored by the legacy of Indian legend MS Dhoni, who has been a part of the franchise for all 16 seasons it has played in the IPL. Despite retiring from international cricket in 2020, he led the team to titles in 2021 and 2023 respectively.
Over the years, the Super Kings have picked up many players and shared the dressing room with the Indian legend. Many of them have claimed that they have learned a lot from the great player, while some claim that they felt obliged to share the dressing room with MS Dhoni.
Former CSK batsman picks RCB as best batsman of all time
Former CSK batsman Sam Billings is known as a specialist T20 cricketer in many franchise leagues around the world. He also plays in the Big Bash League, Men’s Hundred, PSL and ILT20.
However, he last played in the IPL in 2022 for Kolkata Knight Riders. Before that season, he had spent two seasons with Chennai Super Kings in 2018 and 2019, and was part of the title-winning team under MS Dhoni in 2018.
In an interview with Crictracker, he was asked to choose the best batsman of all time in cricket. He claimed that growing up, he was Sachin Tendulkar, but his favorite batsman is South Africa’s AB de Villiers.
He also had to choose the best bowler of all time and he ignored the great players of England and chose Australian legend Shane Warne.
Not MS Dhoni: CSK batsman calls Australian legend the greatest captain ever
After the choice of batsman and bowler, Sam Billings was asked to select the best captain ever in cricket, and he chose another Australian on this occasion too.
Despite playing for Chennai Super Kings for years, he has watched the captaincy of MS Dhoni from very close. Having moved to many other leagues around the world, he himself has led teams several times.
However, Ricky Ponting was also undoubtedly one of the greatest captains of the game. His red-ball record, added to the white-ball dominance for Australia under his leadership, makes him the greatest ever captain in cricket history.
English keeper defeated Adam Gilchrist and MS Dhoni to be voted best wicketkeeper of all time
Sam Billings’ most unconventional choice came while choosing the best wicketkeeper of all time. He sidelined great Australian gloveman Adam Gilchrist and former Indian captain MS Dhoni.
English T20 specialist Sam Billings revealed his all-time picks for different roles in an exclusive interview with CricTracker. pic.twitter.com/eYFFVvWWIL
– Crictracker (@crickettracker) 15 March 2026
Undoubtedly, players who have played with Dhoni are well aware of what amazing things the CSK star can do with the gloves, and hence, they often choose him over Gilchrist in close contests.
However, Billings, despite his CSK lineage, chose former English wicketkeeper Jack Russell as the best wicketkeeper of all time.
Also read: Former Pakistani cricketer mocks PCB for turning cricket into politics