Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has drawn an intriguing comparison between Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan and legendary Indian skipper MS Dhoni, citing their similar leadership style and vocal presence on the field.
During Pakistan’s Champions Trophy 2025 opener against New Zealand, Rizwan was seen constantly shuffling fielders, issuing precise instructions, and urging his teammates to remain alert—a trait that immediately reminded Raina of his former skipper Dhoni’s trademark captaincy.
Rizwan, who was heard on the stump mic giving clear commands to his fielders, displayed an active approach that resonated with Raina. “Both Rishabh Pant and Mohammad Rizwan speak like that during the game, which is very important,” Raina remarked while on broadcasting duties for the tournament.
He further elaborated on how Dhoni’s influence shaped such an approach:
“I remember Mahi bhai [MS Dhoni] used to keep the fielders at cover, point, and slips ready. It keeps the team engaged and adds clarity in the field.”
Rizwan’s animated leadership style has already helped him achieve feats that even MS Dhoni could not achieve. However, the Pakistani skipper has a long way to go before reaching the heights of his compeer. Rizwan’s side had a challenging start in the Champions Trophy, as Pakistan suffered a defeat to New Zealand in their opening game in Karachi. The loss puts extra pressure on the Men in Green ahead of their high-stakes clash against India on February 23 in Dubai.
With Pakistan under pressure, the team will look to their charismatic skipper for improvements. Whether he rises to the occassaion like Dhoni did countless times, remains to be seen.
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