3 similarities between MS Dhoni and Neeraj Chopra
Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni and ace javelin athlete Neeraj Chopra are two of the best athletes to come out of the nation. They have won several accolades for the country in their respective fields.
Neeraj recently scripted history by winning two consecutive Olympic medals. He became the first Indian athlete to win an Olympic gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The 26-year-old backed it up with a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, falling behind Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem. Besides the two Olympic medals, he has also won several medals in different athletic meets.
Similarly, Dhoni is the only Indian captain to lead the nation to three ICC titles. Under his leadership, the Men in Blue won the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007. He helped India to the 2011 ODI World Cup after 28 years before guiding the team to the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. The Men in Blue also attained the pinnacle position in red-ball cricket during his tenure as the skipper.
On that note, let's take a look at three similarities between Neeraj Chopra and MS Dhoni.
#1 Winning mentality
Since MS Dhoni took over the baton of the Indian cricket team, he managed to instill a winning mentality among cricketers. After he took over the reins, the Men in Blue were considered a real force in world cricket. India won three ICC titles in six years and also became the No.1 team in Test cricket.
Similarly, Neeraj Chopra has also shown a winning mentality, albeit in individual sports. Since winning the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the javelin thrower has won a medal in every competition he has participated in. As of July 23, 2024, he was ranked second in the world.
#2 Calm and composed nature
Dhoni has presented himself as a calm and composed individual on and off the field throughout his career. Barring a few occasions, the veteran wicketkeeper-batter has maintained his calm even in high-pressure situations. Owing to nature, Dhoni is famously known as 'Captain Cool'.
Still, early in his career, Neeraj Chopra has similar traits. It was evident during the 2024 Paris Olympics final when he looked composed despite trailing behind Arshad Nadeem for the coveted gold medal. Although he had to settle for the silver medal, Neeraj never lost his cool and spoke gracefully to everyone, including the media, after the final.
#3 Playing with injuries
MS Dhoni grabbed the headlines when he played the entire IPL 2023 season with a knee injury. What made it even more special was that he battled the injury to help the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) win their record-fifth IPL title, beating the Gujarat Titans in the final.
Similarly, Neeraj Chopra battled a groin injury to win the silver medal at the Paris Olympics. He is now said to undergo surgery to recover completely to better his performance in the upcoming events.