Ishant Sharma Reveals the Bond He Shares with MS Dhoni

India speedster Ishant Sharma has spoken about his bond with former India captain MS Dhoni, citing that their interactions gradually increased after 2013. While speaking on Star Sports show Cricket Connected, Ishant said that he started talking to him and understanding him after 2013. He even got to know how cool Dhoni is and how nicely he talks and treats to everyone, especially youngsters.

Ishant further added that Dhoni is exactly like this on the field too and his room is open for everyone. He even shared that he has learnt a lot from the former captain. Recently, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan had said that Dhoni started giving bowlers more control with time.

"He was much more calmer in 2013. Look, in 2007 it was the first time and you understand that when you’re given a big responsibility of leading the country, you always get excited about certain things," Pathan said on Star Sports show Cricket Connected. "Obviously, the meetings were always smaller even in 2007 and in 2013 Champions Trophy as well, there were no differences in terms of 5-minute meetings.”

"But one thing that has really changed and that happens with experiences, when young Mahendra Singh Dhoni became a captain in 2007, he used to run from the wicket-keeping end to the bowler in excitement and try to control the bowler as well. By 2013 came he was letting the bowler control themselves rather he controlling them, so he understood that and he was very calm and in control in 2013 Champions Trophy,” he added.

However, the former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been out of action ever since India had lost the semi-final to New Zealand in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. His absence from the game has led the speculation of retirement as well. But that didn’t last long as he was seen practising for the 2020 Indian Premier League which got postponed for the indefinite time period owing to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak not only in the country but also in the entire world.

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Must Give Virat Kohli Credit for Continuing to Learn from MS Dhoni, Says Michael Hussey

Former Australia cricketer Michael Hussey shared that India captain Virat Kohli should be given credit for still learning from the former India captain MS Dhoni. Dhoni gave up the responsibility in white-ball cricket in 2017 but has been an active part of the side as well where Virat Kohli often seen discussing strategies with him on the field.

"I think you got to give a lot of kudos to Virat Kohli, having someone like MS Dhoni still in the team who’s been, arguably, India’s most successful captain. Sometimes some people would find that threatening to still have that person in the team," Hussey said in an episode of chat show Sony Ten’s Pit Stop on Sony India’s Facebook page.

"But I think that’s where you need to tip your hat to Virat and so you know he’s obviously got the personality to say ‘no, no I would like this guy around. I can learn from this guy, and he’s going to help me get down the better skipper and obviously have a better team’," he further added.

Notably, former captain, MS Dhoni has not played a single game ever since India lost in the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup against New Zealand. Moreover, that has led to speculation about his retirement as well where veteran India spinner Harbhajan Singh shared Dhoni's days are over.

Harbhajan had told Rohit Sharma in an Instagram live session, "He will 100% play the IPL, but does he want to play for India anymore, that's the first thing we need to find out. Does he feel like it or not? As far as I know, he doesn't want to.”

Meanwhile, MS Dhoni had started practising for the 13th edition of Indian Premier League which eventually got postponed amid the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in the country and a call is yet to be taken on this league.

Kane Williamson Calls IPL the Biggest Domestic Competition

New Zealand captain and Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman Kane Williamson has referred to the Indian Premier League as the 'biggest domestic competition'. He also said that he wanted to take part in the tournament to gain knowledge and learn new things also.

Williamson told Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube show titled 'DRS with Ash', "For us, to see the passion for cricket in India is an amazing thing, it is a brilliant competition and there is a high standard, a lot of other countries have followed suit to start their leagues."

Kane Williamson is one of those players who might not look as destructive as others but they can do wonders if they are in form. As an example, he led his side Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2018 in the absence of regular captain David Warner due to his ban for the spot-fixing scandal in South Africa and did it pretty well. However, he also said that leading the IPL team was totally different compared to leading his national New Zealand.

"It is quite different to lead New Zealand and an IPL franchise, initially I did not know what to expect, but like I mentioned it is an Indian competition so you are coming into quite a different culture, I was trying to keep an open mind, there is a lot of experience in all of the groups, it was an enjoyable season to lead the Sunrisers Hyderabad," Williamson said. "The support staff have been there at Hyderabad for a long time and they have enjoyed success, it was about maintaining the style of play that we are known for."

Kane Williamson has so far played 41 matches in the IPL where he has scored 1,302 runs which came at an average of 38.29. However, this year’s IPL has been postponed for the indefinite time period owing to the global pandemic novel coronavirus outbreak. The COVID-19 outbreak has so far claimed several lives across the globe and cancelled or postponed all the sporting events as well.

However, the situation is slowly getting better in some places and England are all set to play their first series against West Indies soon at their own backyard.