Dhoni is a cool captain: Joginder Sharma

16th May 2008

Joginder Sharma who plays for the Chennai Super Kings in the DLF Indian Premier League has praised his team's skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for his cool and collected leadership style. Our reporter caught up with the Haryana all-rounder during the tournament.

Joginder was part of Dhoni's young brigade which clinched the inaugural World Twenty20 Championship in South Africa last year. The Rohtak-born cricketer says that Dhoni hasn't changed as a captain and is the same as before. He mentioned that Dhoni is a thinking skipper with a cool head on his shoulder.

He further added that Dhoni knows how to handle the team according to the situation. Sharma said, "Any captain who has a cool mindset and is capable of handling any situation calmly is a good captain according to me."

The medium-pacer feels that IPL is good concept for cricket and is a valuable opportunity for the youngsters to play with international stars.

Chennai has some of the biggest names of the cricketing world like Stephen Fleming, Muttiah Muralidaran, Makhaya Ntini, and Dhoni in its ranks. Joginder says that it doesn't matter to him that he is playing with such greats of the game and he feels that it is a good confidence booster to play alongside the best in the business.

When our reporter asked the medium-fast bowler who has inspired him to take up cricket, he replied that his brother Ashwin used to take him along for practice session. Watching his brother play, 'Jogi' was inspired to take up cricket. He said that his hard perseverance at the grassroots level helped him climb the ladder of success steadily.

The 24-year-old went on to say, "Till now, I haven't fulfilled my goal and I am trying hard to make a comeback into the Indian one-day team and nail my place into the side."

On his comeback trail to the national side, the right-hander told our reporter that he only wants to keep on coming up with impressive performances and the rest is on the selectors to give him a second chance again or not.

Joginder considers himself as his own idol saying, "I know myself better and I try to get rid of all my weaknesses."