Former India all-rounder Laxman Sivaramakrishnan believes that MS Dhoni is the best white-ball captain and Virat Kohli is the best red-ball captain. Sivaramakrishnan praised Kohli’s brand of attacking cricket but also applauded Dhoni’s calm demeanor.
Both Kohli and Dhoni have led India for long periods and have been successful in their respective captaincy tenures. While Kohli is known for his aggressive brand of leadership, Dhoni was more calculated and calm on the ground.
Dhoni started leading the Indian team in 2007 and proved to be a cool and shrewd captain. Kohli, meanwhile, was always seen as the face of the opposition with his aggressive style. Both players had different approaches, but were very successful.
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Laxman Sivaramakrishnan picks Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni as the best captains
Speaking on Sony Sport’s Tamil cricket podcast Cricket Petta, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan hailed Virat Kohli for his attacking mentality and cited the example of West Indies great Vivian Richards, arguing that the player should show his emotions on the field.
“(Virat) Kohli’s attacking attitude is something he enjoys and celebrates. You have to show your feelings. You must not be like a machine on the ground, etcYou have to have the attitude of Sir Vivian Richards to terrorize the bowlers with his eyes,” Sivaramakrishnan said..
“Kohli’s attacking attitude and Dhoni’s calm demeanor. For me, the best red ball captain is Virat and white ball is MS Dhoni,” he added.
Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni records as captain of India
Virat Kohli is the most successful Test captain for India. The 36-year-old has captained the team in 68 matches and India have won 40 matches with an average of 58.82.
Under his leadership, India won their first Test series in Australia, a first for an Asian team. MS Dhoni is the second most successful Indian Test captain with a win percentage of 45 with 27 wins in 60 matches.
Meanwhile, MS Dhoni is India’s most successful captain in ODIs and second most successful captain in T20Is. He captained India in 200 ODIs in which the Men in Blue won 110 matches with a winning percentage of 110. Kohli is fourth in this list with 65 wins in 95 matches.
Under the leadership of MS Dhoni, India won three ICC titles – 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy. Dhoni is the only captain in the world to achieve this feat so far.
Laxman Sivaramakrishnan on the best captain during his playing days
Talking about his playing days, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan named Sunil Gavaskar as the best captain in terms of strategizing and Kapil Devi in terms of instincts. He gave the example of the 1983 World Cup when Kapil Madan gave Lal an extra pass which resulted in the dismissal of Viv Richards.
“Sunil Gavaskar was the best captain, I played under him. He was very good with strategy and analytical approach. Kapil Dev was a very instinctive captain. He will go with his gut instinct and he added Madan Lal in 1983, it is instinctive captaincy,” said Sivaramakrishnan.
Under the leadership of Kapil Dev, India won the 1983 ODI World Cup in stunning fashion, defeating two-time defending champions West Indies in the final. Sunil Gavaskar was also a part of this title winning team.
