Sourav Ganguly Reveals the Decision That Changed MS Dhoni’s Career

Sourav Ganguly has revealed the story behind one of the most significant decisions in MS Dhoni’s early international career. During India’s ODI against Pakistan in Vizag in 2005, Dhoni was initially expected to bat at No. 7. However, Ganguly believed that the young wicketkeeper-batter had enormous potential and wanted to give him a greater opportunity to make an impact.

After India won the toss the following morning, Ganguly decided to promote Dhoni to No. 3. Dhoni was reportedly sitting in his shorts and expecting to bat at No. 7 when Ganguly told him, “MS, you will bat at No. 3.” When Dhoni asked where Ganguly would bat, the former captain replied that he would take the No. 4 position. Dhoni then produced a remarkable innings, scoring 148 runs from 123 deliveries. It was his maiden ODI century and became a defining performance in his rise as an international cricketer. While a viral post mentions 170 runs, Dhoni’s actual score in that match was 148. Ganguly’s decision to give up the No. 3 position provided Dhoni with the platform to showcase his batting ability and marked an important moment in Indian cricket history.