Venkatesh Iyer recalls moment when MS Dhoni plotted his dismissal during IPL 2023

Former legendary India captain MS Dhoni's accomplishment in cricket is unreal. The 41-year-old has established a reputation as one of the best captains in the game's history. The 2007 World T20, 2011 ODI World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy are the three most important white-ball trophies in cricket history, and Dhoni is the only captain to have won all three of them.

Dhoni has also become the greatest captain in IPL by winning 5 trophies. Meanwhile, Indian cricketer Venkatesh Iyer recently talked about Dhoni’s leading skills as he was bamboozled by the legendary wicketkeeper-batter during the recently concluded 16th edition of the league. 

“I and one more guy was batting. There were two fielders on the off-side – a short third man and covers. Everything was fine before he just called a fielder and placed it on the other side. The very next ball went the exact same way and he was out caught. He could have had some bad luck too but I was wondering 'Why did it have to be off the very next ball? It could have happened 3-4 deliveries later, right?' Suddenly it felt 'Oh man! What a mind this guy has," Iyer was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Cricket is all about angles: Venkatesh Iyer

Venkatesh Iyer, who made his international debut for India in November 2021, has so far participated in two ODIs and nine T20Is. Among other contemporary greats, he has used the same dressing room as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R Ashwin. However, Iyer also revealed that he went to ask Dhoni and had a chat with him about the dismissal.

"Just this year, I was batting and I played a shot and got out at short third man. I turned around and saw 'He is standing wrong. That's not where a fielder stands. He is standing in the wrong position; he should be more to the right. Then I realised 'Oh'. I asked him after the match, 'Bhaiyya, kyu?' (Why?) He said the way the ball was leaving my bat; the fielders should be a lot fine. Then I was like 'WOW! I never even thought like that. To think so quickly then and there, and to understand the angle – cricket is all about angles – to read it is I think his biggest strength." he said.