Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored his first hundred against Pakistan at Vishakhapatnam where he blasted bowlers from the neighboring country all around the park. A big chunk of credit for this success goes to the former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly.
Dhoni made his international debut in 2004 under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly during the tour of Bangladesh where he struggled with the bat and found it difficult to score without any fear. Dada was the one who supported him and made sure that he felt settled in the squad.
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The former Indian skipper remembered the time when he saw a lot of potential in Dhoni but the Ranchi man could not prove his mettle due to limited opportunities. In the quest to help him Dada suggested the then 23 year old to bat at number 3 during a match against Pakistan at Vishakhapatnam.
“When Dhoni came into the team in 2004, he played the first two matches at No.7. We were playing Pakistan at Vizag even when the team was announced after the team meeting Dhoni was at 7. I was watching news sitting in my room and thinking how to make him (Dhoni) a player, I knew he had a lot of potential. Next morning after we won the toss I thought let me send him at 3 will see whatever happens, “Ganguly said.
MS Dhoni was sitting in shorts when Sourav walked to him and said, “you will play at three”. MS was stunned and the first thing he asked was where will the original number three bat. Sourav Ganguly himself was the well established number three batsman for India who gave away his favourite batting position so that a youngster could unleash his potential.
“He was sitting in shorts as he knew he had to bat at 7, I told him ‘MS you have to bat at 3?, he said ‘what about you’, I said ‘I’ll bat 4 you go in at 3,” he continued.
The brute hitting by MS won him the man of the match award as he scored 148 runs hitting 15 fours and 4 sixes.