Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri showered praise on MS Dhoni after he was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. Dhoni becomes the 11th Indian, and ninth Indian male cricketer, to receive the honour. The former Indian wicket-keeper was included in the Hall of Fame along with Hashim Amla, Graeme Smith, Daniel Vettori, and Sarah Taylor on Monday.
Shastri said Dhoni remained the same as person despite achieving all the accolades at the top level. Dhoni led India to glory in the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 World Cup, 2013 Champions Trophy, and the number one rankings in Test cricket.
“He gets out for the zero, he’s the same, he wins the World Cup he’s the same, he gets a hundred, he’s the same, 200 the same. There is absolutely no difference,” Shastri said about Dhoni at the Hall of Fame ceremony on Monday.
On the other hand, Dhoni said it is a huge honour for him to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“It is an honour to be named in the ICC Hall of Fame, which recognises the contributions of cricketers across generations and from all over the world. To have your name remembered alongside such all-time greats is a wonderful feeling. It is something that I will cherish forever,” Dhoni told the ICC website.
Before Dhoni, Indian cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Virender Sehwag, Sunil Gavaskar, Vinoo Mankad, Bishan Singh Bedi, Diana Edulji, Neetu David, and Kapil Dev have been included in the ICC Hall of Fame.
Dhoni called time on his International career on August 15, 2020. The former Indian wicket-keeper last played for India in the semifinal of the 2019 World Cup against New Zealand.
