MS Dhoni makes my job easier while bowling: Imran Tahir

Apart from being a terrific leader, MS Dhoni also reads the game situation perfectly and sets the field accordingly. His sharp-mindedness and shrewd captaincy have often left the opposition speechless. Be it to give the last over to Joginder Sharma in the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007 or be it backing the youngsters in the Indian team as well Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the wicketkeeper-batter sure knows what is the best.

That he is the leader of CSK right since its inception is testimony to the 39-year-old’s brilliant captaincy credentials. Over the years Dhoni has gained a lot of followers purely on the basis of leadership qualities. Be it Rashid Khan, Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting, or Faf du Plessis, the CSK skipper’s popularity is huge and phenomenal, to say the least.

South Africa leg-spinner Imran Tahir too has now joined the ever-growing list and lauded his CSK skipper by saying there is no pressure on me when Dhoni is there. He knows exactly what type of field setting is required and goes about his business with minimum fuss.

How MS Dhoni’s tactics help Tahir in IPL

“The quality of a great captain is that they themselves set your field as you prefer,” said Tahir in an exclusive chat with Cricwick. “You don’t have to do anything. And Mahi bhai is one of them. They know that what type of field I prefer. If he has to change anything, he’ll do it himself because he knows about the batsman and his strengths and weaknesses. And that actually makes my job easier as well. I don’t have any pressure to tell him every time that I need a fielder in a certain area. If I’m not bowling well, then I need captain’s advice and his help.”

Imran Tahir feels both Faf du Plessis and Shoaib Malik are good leaders
Tahir was also asked to describe Shoaib Malik and Du Plessis whom he has played under and the leg-spinner said all three know their game very well and he shares a great camaraderie with all the three players.

“I think in my opinion, all of these guys are big players. Shoaib [Malik] has been playing international cricket for Pakistan for 20 years, and he is still playing wonderfully well. He knows his game very well and is a performer all over the world. MS Dhoni, he is a legend as you know he has won every championship in world cricket. And then you have Faf du Plessis. Actually, my relation with every captain has been very good.“