5 legends who redefined calmness in cricket before MS Dhoni
Cricket is a beautiful game with rich tradition only a few other team sports can rival and throughout its history, this game has given birth to legends whose character traits differ widely.
When it comes to calmness and muted on-field behavior, the first name that comes to an Indian cricket fan’s mind is Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Before his arrival, the best captains of Indian cricket have always emphasized aggression.
Be it Kapil Dev who always took the attack to the opposition or Sourav Ganguly who injected a sense of ruthlessness in the early years of 21st century, Indian captains never backed off from showing their emotions on or off the field.
By the end of the 2007 World Cup, Indian cricket was in turmoil after the Greg Chappell fiasco and the group stage exit from the tournament.
Indian cricket desperately needed a captain who could calm things down and MS Dhoni was the chosen one to take them forward. Dhoni had his own way of approaching the game. He promoted unorthodox batting technique, unique field settings and the ability to manage a team filled with legends. His ability to read the match situation proved invaluable as he won the World T20 in his maiden stint as captain.
He provided a breath of fresh air and brought the coveted 50 over cricket world cup back to India after 28 years. The one thing that separates Dhoni from all other captains is his innate ability to remain composed under an insane amount of pressure and this was the main reason for his success in global tournaments. His immense success as a finisher in the 50 overs game can also be attributed to his calm nature.
Here are five legends of the game before MS Dhoni who were renowned for their cool head and calmness
#5 Rahul Dravid
Even in 2018, few other names in world cricket evoke as much respect as Rahul Dravid. Right from his batting style to his off the pitch persona, Dravid is the ultimate 'old school' cricketer. His regressive personality perfectly suited the demands of a number 3 batsman in test cricket. Whenever an opener got out, Dravid walked down to the crease and soaked in all the pressure exerted by the bowler.
To succeed in test cricket, one needs a good temperament and Dravid’s calm and composed character enabled him to bat for long hours without a drop in concentration. Because of this rare quality, He was very successful in negotiating the new ball in tough, overseas conditions.
Under Dravid's captaincy, India won a test series in England but he resigned after India’s group stage exit. His calm and stoic personality enabled him to extract the best out of youngsters and this resulted in India’s U-19 World Cup victory in 2018.