Ajinkya Rahane Reflects on MS Dhoni's Leadership and His Own Cricket Journey
Ajinkya Rahane Remembers MS Dhoni's Unique Leadership Style
In a recent discussion, former Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane shared his thoughts on MS Dhoni's composed and approachable demeanor. Rahane described Dhoni as a down-to-earth individual who kept his room open for teammates to gather and bond, while also setting clear boundaries when the door was closed.
Having announced his retirement from international cricket last week, Rahane made his debut in all three formats—T20Is, ODIs, and Tests—under Dhoni's captaincy.
Rahane also had the opportunity to play alongside Dhoni during their time with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2023 and 2024.
On the Stick to Cricket podcast, Rahane remarked, "MS Dhoni is incredibly calm and just a regular person. His room was often open for anyone to come in. There were times when 10 to 15 players, or even the entire team, would be in there. However, once the door was closed, it was off-limits."
Additionally, Rahane disclosed that he disconnects from social media during series to enhance his focus, a practice he adopted after receiving advice from Ben Stokes in 2017 during their IPL collaboration.
He emphasized the importance of having a personal routine, which includes watching shows, reading, spending quality time with family, and preparing for the next day, to keep himself mentally rejuvenated.
"I remove all social media apps during series. This is my own personal strategy. I recall Ben Stokes advising me against checking social media back in 2017 while we were in the IPL. Establishing a routine has been beneficial for me when I’m in my room. Simple activities like watching Netflix, reading, chatting with family, and ironing my clothes for the next day help me a lot," he explained.
Rahane's retirement announcement came through an emotional video on Instagram, marking the end of a nearly two-decade-long career. In Test cricket, he played 85 matches and 144 innings, amassing 5,077 runs, which included 12 centuries and 26 fifties, with an average of 38.46 and a strike rate of 49.50.
In ODIs, he participated in 90 matches and 87 innings, scoring 2,962 runs, with 3 centuries and 24 fifties, averaging 35.26 and a strike rate of 78.63.
In T20Is, Rahane played 20 matches and 20 innings, accumulating 375 runs, with no centuries and one fifty, averaging 20.83 and a strike rate of 113.29.