"One decision matters for the game" - When MS Dhoni opened up after being named India captain for 2007 T20 World Cup
A young Indian team led by MS Dhoni created history in South Africa in 2007 by winning the inaugural ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Following a disastrous performance in the ODI World Cup the same year in the West Indies, they were low hopes from the Men in Blue ahead of the 2007 T20 World Cup.
The decision to appoint Dhoni as captain for the ICC event also received mixed response, as the keeper-batter had only made his international debut in December 2004. However, the Ranchi-born stumper beat multiple odds to lift the Men in Blue to a famous win in the 2007 T20 World Cup. The rest, as they say, is history.
Ahead of heading to the Rainbow Nation for the ICC tournament, Dhoni had shared his views on captaincy and his leadership thought process. Asked what it meant to be the skipper of the ship, he had said (as quoted by ESPNcricinfo):
"It's not about the captain alone. Whether my decisions are successful or not depends on another player. If I promote someone to bat at No. 3, I'm only the person who takes the decision. If that player performs, it's a good decision; if he doesn't, it's a bad decision."
On whether he was equipped for the big challenge, the future superstar of world cricket had admitted that time would have the answer.
"Until I go on to the field and until I captain the side, I can say that I'm well prepared. But the challenge is to take the right decision at the right time. Sometimes you are the captain for five or ten matches, but you don't really have perfect situations. One decision matters for the game, and that will tell me if I'm prepared or not," the keeper-batter had asserted.
India exceeded expectations under Dhoni at the 2007 T20 World Cup. They lifted the title by defeating arch-rivals Pakistan by five runs in a thrilling final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
MS Dhoni is the only captain to win all three ICC white-ball titles
Having established his captaincy credentials on the big stage, the Ranchi-born cricketer went on to bring further laurels for the country. Under him, India lifted the 2011 ODI World Cup at home, with the man himself scoring a match-winning 91* in the final against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede in Mumbai.
The Men in Blue also went on to clinch the 2013 Champions Trophy in England, making Dhoni the only captain to win all three ICC white-ball trophies. This record stands still date and is a testament to his legacy as a leader.