Loved young MS Dhoni more, he is India's greatest white-ball captain: Sourav Ganguly
India Today
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said he preferred the younger, fearless version of MS Dhoni, recalling how the wicketkeeper-batter from Jharkhand could effortlessly hit sixes under pressure. Dhoni made his international debut under Ganguly's captaincy in 2004.
In a candid reflection on the hierarchy of Indian cricket leadership, former captain Sourav Ganguly has named MS Dhoni as the nation's greatest white-ball captain. Speaking at the TV9 WITT Summit 2026, Ganguly set aside his own formidable legacy to provide a definitive answer on the long-debated comparison between the two icons.
During the discussion. Ganguly used the ultimate metric of success to rank MS Dhoni higher than the rest of the Indian captains: silverware.
"MS Dhoni has won a World Cup, while I have been a runner-up," Ganguly said, referencing India's 2011 triumph compared to the 2003 final where India lost to Australia.
"He has led India in three World Cups. In our time, there was no T20I cricket – only the Champions Trophy and the World Cup. But MS Dhoni has won the World Cup, and I would say he was an outstanding white-ball captain."
Dhoni, who made his international debut under Ganguly's captaincy in 2004, went on to lead India to T20 World Cup glory in 2007, the ODI World Cup in 2011 and the Champions Trophy in 2013, becoming the first and only captain to compete the white-ball three-peat.
Ganguly, now serving as the Chair of the ICC Men's Cricket Committee and Head Coach of Pretoria Capitals, also expressed particular pride in Dhoni's roots. Coming from Jharkhand – a region then largely overlooked by national selectors – Dhoni's rise served as a catalyst for a new generation of talent.
Faf du Plessis has said that Rishabh Pant needs to be a high-impact player to find consistency as a T20 player. The LSG captain has impressed in Tests for India but hasn't found the same vein of form in white-ball cricket.
IPL 2026: Former India batter Mohammad Kaif advised KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane to take inspiration from Virat Kohli's improved game against spin and convert his starts into match-winning knocks.
Real Madrid have come under intense scrutiny after reports of a serious medical error involving Kylian Mbappe, who was allegedly allowed to play with a knee injury following a diagnostic mix-up.
Former England captain and legendary batter Geoffrey Boycott slammed ECB chief executive Richard Gould and managing director Rob Key over the review into England's Ashes defeat earlier in the summer.
After RCB's Rs. 16,660 crore sale to a multi-industry consortium, Netherlands pacer Paul van Meekeren said that 0.5 percent of that price is enough to change Dutch cricket and help them bridge the gap to big teams in international cricket.
IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has been sold to a consortium, led by Aditya Birla Group, for a record sum of over Rs 16,000 crore, marking the league's most expensive franchise takeover ever.
IPL 2026: Rinku Singh named KKR vice-captain as Rahane and Nayar praised his growth, leadership and impact, with the T20 World Cup winner now taking on a bigger role.
IPL 2026: Ben Duckett withdraws from IPL 2026 to focus on England duty, apologises to Delhi Capitals, and could face a ban under league rules for pulling out after being picked at the auction.
IPL 2026: Australia's Spencer Johnson became the third player to quit Pakistan Super League and join the IPL as a replacement player. Chennai Super Kings signed the left-arm fast bowler for Rs 1.5 crore.
A US-led consortium has reportedly acquired Rajasthan Royals for USD 1.63 billion, setting a new benchmark in the Indian Premier League. Meanwhile, bidding for RCB intensifies, with valuations expected to cross USD 2 billion following their historic 2025 title and massive global demand.
IPL 2026: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has expanded its operational guidelines for this season, introducing stricter regulations, including a complete ban on match-day practice sessions, according to a report by Cricbuzz.
India batter Smriti Mandhana retained her second spot, while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur moved up to 14th in the latest ICC women's T20I rankings for batters on Tuesday.
IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans batting coach Matthew Hayden named Rahul Tewatia as the successor to his iconic Mongoose bat, praising the GT finisher's power-hitting ahead of IPL 2026.