5 times Virat Kohli heaped praise on MS Dhoni
Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni are two of the most successful captains in Indian cricket history. Dhoni led the nation to the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy triumphs. Kohli, meanwhile, guided India to the number one Test ranking and inspired the team to historic wins away from home.
Fans enjoyed the partnerships between Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni on the cricket field because they knew the art of chasing a target to perfection. Also, their rivalry as captains of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings in the IPL entertained the cricket universe for years.
It is a well-known fact that MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are really good friends off the field, and here's a list of five such instances when Kohli praised Dhoni.
#1 How Virat Kohli paid tribute to MS Dhoni when he stepped down as India's ODI and T20I captain
It is rare to see a smooth transition of captaincy in cricket, especially when the outgoing captain has achieved enormous. However, Kohli and Dhoni managed to do it perfectly in 2017.
When Dhoni stepped down as India's white-ball skipper, Kohli replaced him, but the latter always had respect for the man who backed him in his tough times.
"Thanks for always being the leader a youngster wants to have around him. You'll always be my captain Dhoni Bhai," Virat tweeted.
#2 Virat Kohli's reaction to MS Dhoni's retirement
MS Dhoni surprised the cricket universe by announcing retirement from all formats of international cricket on August 15, 2020. BCCI posted a special video after the announcement, where Kohli said:
"Words fall short in a lot of times in life and I think this is one of those moments. All I can say is that you always be the guy who sat on last seat of the bus. Not saying much but your presence and your saying a lot. For me, you have always been that guy and I am sure you will continue to be so."
Virat further heaped praise on Dhoni and highlighted how his only goal was to make the team win.
#3 When Virat Kohli showered praise on MS Dhoni's ability to handle pressure
Dhoni earned the nickname of 'Captain Cool' because of his ability to make the best decisions in the toughest time. His game awareness skill has earned him every fan's respect. Even Kohli was in awe of him as he said the following in an interview with Star Sports in 2021:
"His understanding of the game and pressure is second to none. His tactical brilliance and ability have been seen for so many years. When I became captain, I used to discuss a lot of things with him, and when I was the vice-captain, and he was captain, I would constantly go to him with ideas that we had."
In 2021, BCCI appointed Dhoni as a mentor for the Indian team participating in the T20 World Cup under Kohli's captaincy. The two legends of Indian cricket frequently had conversations with each other during the mega event.
#4 When Virat Kohli called MS Dhoni 'The King'
Fans often refer to Virat as 'King Kohli' because he has ruled the cricket world with his consistent batting performances. However, after the IPL 2021 Qualifier 1 match between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals, Kohli labeled Dhoni as the king. It came after the latter's match-winning cameo in the second innings, which helped CSK qualify for the final.
"Anddddd the king is back [heart emoji] the greatest finisher in the game. Made me jump Outta my seat once again tonight," Virat tweeted.
This tweet from Virat is one of the most liked posts on the social media platform. More than 507,000 users liked the tweet posted on October 10, 2021.
#5 When Virat Kohli said he was fortunate to have Dhoni in the team
In an interview with India Today in 2019, Virat showered praise on Dhoni's ability to read the game and said that he was the one player who knew cricket inside out.
"To have a person who knows the game inside out and understands things from ball one to ball 300 – I wouldn’t say it’s a luxury to have, I’ll actually say I’m fortunate to have a mind like that behind the stumps who can see the game so clearly. Because at the end of the day, I want to be involved in strategy with the team management and everyone."
Virat concluded by saying that when he was in the outfield in the death overs during his time as India's captain, Dhoni would help him with some decisions.