MS Dhoni Unsure if Sourav Ganguly Appreciated His ‘Impromptu’ Farewell Gift: ‘Last Chance to Bid Goodbye…’

Legendary India wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni reminisced about a heartwarming gesture he made for Sourav Ganguly during a special moment in his career. Dhoni, who made his India debut under Ganguly's captaincy, reflected on the role reversal they experienced towards the end of Ganguly's career. Dhoni's gesture for Ganguly had captured the hearts of many, showcasing the strong bond between the two cricketing legends.

However, Dhoni decided to undo the situation once again and handed the captaincy back to Ganguly during his farewell Test against Australia in 2008. Before the match in Nagpur, Ganguly had already announced it would be the final match of his career, and the legendary wicketkeeper decided to give a special tribute to a player under whose captaincy he made his international debut.

In a promotional event, recently, Dhoni recalled the moment and revealed the reason behind his decision to handover captaincy to Ganguly for the final session of the game.

"Being one of the greatest captains that India has ever produced, what better farewell can you give from your side?" Dhoni remarked. "Last day (of his career), he is standing on a Test match field, playing the game. If he can say 'goodbye' leading for a while, then why not? It doesn't really change the result of the game. That was the reason behind it," Dhoni added.

However, Dhoni said he isn't sure whether Ganguly enjoyed it, as it was not planned and he did it all of a sudden, as the match's result was not at stake.

"I don't know whether he enjoyed it or not because it came all of a sudden. It wasn't planned, like 'this is what you should do.' I thought this was the best way for him to say farewell, leading on the field. Even if it is for 15-20 minutes, why not?" he added.

Dhoni has hinted at a potential return for IPL 2025, saying he wants to enjoy "whatever last few years of cricket" he can play, amid speculation regarding his availability for the upcoming season.

"I just want to enjoy whatever last few years of cricket I'm able to play," Dhoni said at a promotional event held in Goa a couple of days ago.