The Captaincy Styles of Dhoni and Pataudi: What We Can Learn
Both MS Dhoni and Tiger Pataudi have had a significant impact on Indian cricket. Tiger Pataudi's appointment as the captain of the Indian cricket team in 1962 marked the beginning of a new era in Indian cricket. He was the first Indian captain to play with aggression and was responsible for instilling a sense of self-belief and confidence in the Indian team. Pataudi's leadership skills and tactical brilliance helped India win some of their most memorable victories. He started to play India with only one eye after losing an eye during a freak car accident in UK but he turned adversity into an opportunity because if his sheer self-belief. Many have said that he would have taken over Don Bradman's record if not for this handicap. Tiger as name signifies exuded self confidence with his swagger and his athleticism in fielding was many notches above even today's standards.
T20, the 2010 and 2016 Asia Cups, the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. Dhoni's legacy as one of the greatest cricket captains of all time is evident from the way he transformed Indian cricket and left an indelible mark on the sport.
Cricket has always been a game that has required a certain level of leadership, strategy, and teamwork. Throughout history, we have seen some of the greatest cricketers, who were also exceptional captains. Among them, two leaders stand out: Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and MS Dhoni. Both Pataudi and Dhoni were known for their unique leadership styles that brought success to their teams. In this blog, we will compare their leadership styles and how it can be applied in today's corporate leadership.
MS Dhoni, or "Captain Cool" as he is fondly
called, has been one of the most successful cricket captains in Indian cricket
history. He was a man of few words but his actions spoke louder than his words.
His leadership style was characterized by his calmness, composure, and his
ability to make quick and effective decisions. The
Tiger Pataudi, on the other hand, was known for his aggressive captaincy and his ability to instil team spirit within his players. He was a flamboyant captain who always played to win and inspired his team members to do the same. He is also credited with the fact that he turned around the Indian cricket from
the influence of colonial era and bring unity in the team to play for the country and built confidence in them that “ WE CAN WIN “
So, what can we learn from the leadership styles of these two great captains in a fun way? Let us dive in!
MS Dhoni – Keep Calm and do not show emotions on field
MS Dhoni's composure on the field is legendary. He
was always calm and composed, no matter how tense the situation was. One such
instance was during the final of the 2011 World ODI, when India was chasing a
target of 275 runs. The Indian team lost three wickets in quick succession, and
the crowd was getting restless. Dhoni walked in and elevated his batting order and the stadium erupted
in cheers. But Dhoni remained calm and collected.
On the other end, Yuvraj Singh was struggling to find
his form, and the required run rate was climbing up. Dhoni, however, was
unfazed. He kept his calm and played a mature innings, taking India to victory.
Dhoni's composure in that match was a testament to his leadership skills.
Tiger Pataudi - The Aggressive Captain with a
swagger
Tiger Pataudi was a flamboyant captain who believed
in playing aggressive cricket. He was not afraid to take risks and always
played to win. One such instance was during the tour of Australia in 1968.
India was trailing 1-0 in the series, and Pataudi decided to make a bold move.
He dropped the experienced spin bowler Bapu Nadkarni and included the young
leg-spinner Bhagwat Chandrasekhar in the team.
Chandrasekhar, who was making his debut, went on to
take six wickets in the first innings and five wickets in the second innings,
helping India win the match by four wickets. Pataudi's decision to include
Chandrasekhar in the team was a masterstroke, and it changed the course of the
series.
MS Dhoni - The Decision Maker
MS Dhoni was known for his excellent
decision-making skills. He relied on his instincts to make quick and effective
decisions on the field. One such instance was during the final of the 2011
World Cup. Sri Lanka had set a target of 275 runs, and India was chasing. The
Indian top order had collapsed, and the situation was tense.
Dhoni walked into bat, and the crowd went wild. But
Dhoni remained calm and composed. He made a decision that surprised everyone -
he promoted himself up the batting order ahead of the in-form Yuvraj Singh. The
move paid off, and Dhoni went on to play a match-winning knock of 91 not out.
His decision to promote himself up the order was a game-changer and helped
India win the World Cup after 28 years.
Tiger Pataudi - The Team Builder
Tiger Pataudi was known for his ability to build
team spirit within his players. He created a friendly and supportive atmosphere
within the team, which helped the players bond and perform at their best. One
such instance was during the tour of England in 1967.
During the tour, India was struggling to find form,
and the team morale was low. Pataudi organized a team bonding session where the
players went out for dinner together. The dinner turned out to be a turning
point in the tour, and the team started performing well from then on. Pataudi's
ability to bring the team together was a testament to his leadership skills.
Tiger Pataudi and MS Dhoni – Have Fun & Stay Humble
Finally, have fun! Both MS Dhoni and Tiger Pataudi had a
fun-loving personality and enjoyed the game to the fullest. They always had a
smile on their face and believed in enjoying the moment. The lesson here is to
have fun and enjoy the journey, no matter how challenging it may be.
In conclusion, the leadership styles of MS Dhoni and Tiger Pataudi are unique, but they share some common values - composure, confidence, instinctive decision-making, team spirit, and having fun. So, let's take inspiration from these legendary captains and apply these values in our personal and
professional lives. Because, at the end of the day, leadership is not just about winning, it's also about having fun and enjoying the journey!
Hi- The fact that they belonged to different eras hence technically can’t be compared . Secondly, what both of them inherited was different . Pat got guys who didn’t consider winning as a prospect while MSD’s team considered winning a lost legacy . Pat oozed with self confidence, his agility and speed in the field was unmatched . Fearless as he was, his walk was like a Tiger and his sheer entry in the field used to send shivers to the opposition . His humility and efforts to jell with the team, having an eye for talent was far beyond Dhoni. In my opinion Pat has been the best Skipper India has ever had . Imagine, if he could score centuries with just one eye imagine what would have happened if he had both . You forgot to mention resilience . If there has to be a torchbearer of being resilient No one else could have demonstrated as well as he did .
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading the blog and your points are well noted. I have mentioned resilience and his achievements / comparison with Bradman
DeleteFielding is well noted and he really upped the game
Thanks once again
Cheers
The 1971 victory in England was under the leadership of Ajit Wadekar, not Pataudi. There were hardly any major victories under Pataudi ( not questioning his captaincy skills, but just stating facts)
ReplyDeleteYes, I stand corrected on Pataudi not part of iconic 1971 series win which was under Wadekar.
ReplyDeleteHe led India in 40 Test matches and won 9 of them, which may not seem like a lot, but at the time, India was not considered a strong cricket team, and winning overseas was a difficult task. Selection was heavily influenced by state politics and one of the reason for him being dropped as captain for 1971. Pataudi was a visionary captain who changed the way Indian cricket was played. He was the first captain to introduce fielding as an important aspect of the game. He brought in a new fielding strategy, which helped India improve their fielding standards. Pataudi also encouraged players to be aggressive on the field, which was not a common trait in Indian cricket at the time.
He was from a different era and the intent was not to say who is greater but to take away learnings from the two cricket icons which we can apply in today's workplaces