Ishant Sharma revealed that MS Dhoni was not a big fan of holding meetings.
The veteran Indian pacer spoke about the contrasting captaincy styles of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. Ishant explained that Dhoni preferred to go with the flow of the game and make plans on the field, while Kohli was more methodical, planning ahead of the match and adjusting strategies based on the situations.
Both Dhoni and Kohli are widely regarded as two of India’s greatest captains. Dhoni remains the most successful white-ball captain in Indian cricket history, leading the team to three ICC white-ball titles: the T20 World Cup in 2007, the ODI World Cup in 2011, and the Champions Trophy in 2013. Kohli, meanwhile, is credited with shaping India into a dominant Test side, including leading the team to their historic first Test series win in Australia in 2018-19.
Ishant Sharma has experienced leadership under both captains firsthand. He played under Dhoni from 2008 to 2014 and under Kohli from 2015 to 2021. Although Ishant has not officially retired from international cricket, his last appearance for India came in 2021.
Ishant Sharma Breaks Down the Difference Between MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli’s Captaincy
On Raj Shamani’s YouTube podcast, Ishant Sharma shared his insights on how MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli led their teams differently. According to him, Dhoni preferred to make decisions on the field, while Kohli relied on pre-planned strategies.
“What set Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) apart? He was the kind of captain who liked to take action on the field. The planning happened during the game itself, based on the situation,” Ishant Sharma explained.
“In contrast, with Virat (Kohli), there was always a basic plan in place before the game. As the match progressed, we assessed the situation and made decisions accordingly. Dhoni wasn’t a fan of long meetings. His philosophy was simple: you learn through mistakes. He believed that the key to consistency was how quickly you learned from one mistake before making the next,” he added.
Ishant Sharma was last seen playing for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025, taking four wickets in seven matches. Dhoni has remained a regular presence in the IPL since retiring from international cricket in 2020, while Kohli is preparing for India’s upcoming ODI series against Australia next month.