5 Cricketers who publicly thanked MS Dhoni for their success

MS Dhoni’s impact on teammates runs deeper than trophies. A captain’s endorsement does two practical things: it buys a player time with selectors and it reduces the media noise that wrecks confidence. A calm captain, shrewd finisher and instinctive judge of people, Dhoni has publicly backed and mentored players at key moments, moves that changed careers. Below are five cricketers who’ve openly thanked Dhoni for playing a decisive role in their rise, with the moments and reasons that mattered.

1. Virat Kohli 

Kohli has repeatedly acknowledged Dhoni’s role in his development, from backing him through role changes to offering tactical advice and reassurance during lean patches. When Kohli stepped down as India Test captain, he explicitly thanked Dhoni for believing in him as a leader, a public nod that captures how much Kohli valued Dhoni’s faith. 

That trust, Kohli says, helped him take on responsibility without being crushed by expectation. And he has been very much vocal about it, not shying away from mentioning his name when talking to the media.

2. Rohit Sharma

Rohit has been candid that moving up the order in limited-overs cricket was a turning point, and he points to Dhoni as the man behind that change. Dhoni’s decision to try Rohit as an opener (and his willingness to persist with the experiment) unlocked Rohit’s ability to play long, match-defining knocks. 

Rohit has described the shift as “career-changing,” and he has publicly thanked Dhoni for that push and the confidence that accompanied it. He has mentioned several times that he was grateful for having gotten a second chance and revival of his career under Dhoni’s captaincy.

3. Ambati Rayudu

Rayudu has often spoken about learning from Dhoni’s calm and situational awareness. Watching Dhoni in the middle, copying his approach to pressure, and benefiting from a captain who could bring the best out of players. After several match-winning performances (including an ODI century), Rayudu publicly thanked Dhoni and credited time around him for improving his game management and temperament. 

His repeated praise makes clear the mentor-mentee dynamic between the two. Especially with him having played and won the Indian Premier League under the leadership of MS Dhoni, the fondness of Rayudu for his skipper further increased and strengthened.

4. Ravindra Jadeja

Jadeja’s transformation from a promising but inconsistent youngster into a world-class all-rounder came alongside clear, visible backing from Dhoni, especially during their time together at Chennai Super Kings. Jadeja himself has said Dhoni’s faith and the chances he was given helped him grow in batting, bowling and fielding. 

That consistent on-field trust (and occasional public praise) created the platform Jadeja needed to develop into the match-winner he is today. He credits Dhoni and his CSK days under him for his success quite a lot.

5. Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin has been openly grateful to Dhoni for opportunities that accelerated his career, from early IPL roles to tactical mentorship on the field. He has called himself “indebted” to Dhoni for specific chances that let him bowl in attacking situations and learn captain-keeper thinking that sharpened his own tactical game. 

Ashwin’s public thanks reflect the practical ways Dhoni helped him hone skills and seize defining moments. It was largely under the leadership of MS, where he turned from just another spinner to a huge match-winner for the team India.

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