5 Players who got backing from MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni’s legacy isn’t just trophies and stumpings, but it’s also the players whose careers he helped shape. Time and again, Dhoni has backed teammates, given youngsters long ropes, and publicly defended or mentored players who went on to become pillars of Indian cricket. 

A captain’s vote of confidence does more than boost morale. In high-performance sport, it affects selection, role clarity, and even how opposition analysts view a player. Dhoni’s backing often meant longer leashes in form slumps, clearer tactical roles, and the psychological cushion players need to play boldly. Here are five cricketers whose careers were noticeably boosted by Dhoni’s faith and a quick look at how that backing made a difference.

1. Virat Kohli

Kohli has often said he wouldn’t have become the batter he is without Dhoni’s early faith. Dhoni promoted Kohli up the order, gave him the freedom to bat through pressure situations and, crucially, stuck with him when form wobbled. 

Kohli himself has credited Dhoni for that early backing and for allowing him to settle into the No. 3 role, something that changed the trajectory of his career. The public narrative of Kohli’s rise is inseparable from Dhoni’s willingness to trust a young talent in big games. 

2. Rohit Sharma 

Rohit’s reinvention as a world-class white-ball opener didn’t happen overnight. Playing in the middle order was just not giving the results which were justifying the potential this player had. Dhoni gave Rohit extended chances in the middle and eventually promoted him to the top of the order in limited-overs cricket, a tactical move that unlocked Rohit’s ability to play long, high-scoring innings. 

That patient backing paid off in the form of huge individual scores and a career that now reads like one of modern cricket’s success stories. He has not just established himself as one of the best white ball openers to have played the game, but one of the finest players of the format as well.

3. Suresh Raina 

Raina became the poster boy for Dhoni’s trust in players who bought into the team’s plans. Yuvraj Singh and other contemporaries have pointed out how Dhoni repeatedly backed Raina, in selection choices and in-match roles, even when there were tough calls to make. 

Dhoni’s backing allowed Raina to play with freedom and to become one of India’s most dependable middle-order batters across formats. That visible support from the captain amplified Raina’s confidence and translated into match-winning performances. 

4. Ravindra Jadeja 

Few relationships showcase Dhoni’s faith better than the one with Jadeja. Dhoni’s public affection (and occasional tongue-in-cheek social-media shout-outs) and his on-field trust helped Jadeja transform from a talented but inconsistent youngster into a world-class all-rounder. 

Dhoni’s willingness to keep Jadeja in key positions, whether with the ball, in the field or in the batting order, gave the left-armer the platform to become a match-winner. The “Sir Jadeja” tag started as a joke, but it stuck because Dhoni’s endorsement made selectors and fans look twice at Jadeja’s potential.

5. Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin arrived on the big stage while Dhoni was captain, and their relationship grew into a professional partnership. Dhoni’s match-time advice, the kind of on-field thinking only an elite wicketkeeper-captain can provide, helped Ashwin evolve his craft, especially in tactics and variation. 

Ashwin has publicly acknowledged Dhoni’s influence on his approach. Later in their careers, Dhoni’s support and calls (including in IPL and CSK contexts) have kept Ashwin in important roles and conversations about team balance.

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