'Just like that': Lakshmipathy Balaji discloses what MS Dhoni said just moments after announcing retirement

Former Indian cricketer and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji revealed how MS Dhoni's captaincy "changed the perception of leadership among all captains". During his interaction on Cricket Connected, Balaji spoke about the exact moment when Dhoni officially announced his retirement from international cricket. Both of them were at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium, undergoing CSK's pre-season training camp, preparing for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 kickoff.

"After practice gets over, I normally talk a lot to Dhoni about the wicket, about practising and playing conditions. So that day, I finished practice and I went inside. I did not realize that he had already put his retirement message at 7:29 pm," former pace Balaji recalled.

"So, after posting the message, Dhoni walked up to me as usual and he casually told me that he had asked the groundsman to water the ground extra for the pitch. I said okay. And I didn't realize anything, it was a huge moment in his life. But, just like that, he moved on, and that's Dhoni for you."

"I finally realised he announced his retirement. It took some time for me to sink in the moment. Dhoni's uniqueness is the way he is detached. He will never stop no matter what the situation is, and moves on in his own style," he added.

Balaji, who played under the leadership of MS Dhoni for Team India and for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), also emphasized on the fact that there is nobody in the 21st century like Mahi.

"From the year 2000, according to me, there's nobody like Dhoni who's had such a massive influence on not just Indian cricket but world cricket," Balaji claimed.

"Even now if there are 20-plus runs needed to win in the last over and if I had to pick someone, it would always be Dhoni. Such massive impact he has. His leadership and his batting styles are totally different."

"His leadership changed the perception of leadership among all captains. The way he maintains his emotion on field, maintaining the team environment and camaraderie, leading the team successfully, only MS Dhoni could do it," he added.