Veteran Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar recently appeared on Ranveer Allahabadia’s podcast, where he opened up about his admiration for MS Dhoni—both as a cricketer and a person.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar who plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025), in a heartfelt comparison, called Dhoni the “Lionel Messi of cricket,” highlighting the legendary wicketkeeper’s calm, game-changing presence.
MS Dhoni won three ICC titles (T20 World Cup 2007, ODI World Cup 2011, Champions Trophy 2013). It is worth noting that he is the only captain to have won three different ICC titles, a record that remains intact.
Bhuvneshwar, who made his international debut under Dhoni’s leadership, didn’t hold back while expressing his respect for the former Indian skipper. He spoke highly of Dhoni’s ability to read the game and his unmatched skills behind the stumps.
“MS Dhoni and Lionel Messi because I have spent time with Dhoni, and spending time with him is always fun. So I know his nature. Everyone knows who spent time with him. I’ve seen Lionel Messi on TV or whatever game I have seen. So I think he is different, and just like Messi, MS Dhoni is different,” said Bhuvneshwar Kumar on Ranveer Allahbadia’s podcast.
During the chat, Bhuvneshwar also touched on how important a wicketkeeper is when it comes to helping bowlers pick up wickets—especially someone like Dhoni who has years of captaincy and experience behind him.
“There is a big role of the wicket-keeper (on picking wickets). When a keeper is keeping, they know all the angles. Dhoni has done captaincy for so many years and at that level, so he gets to know what the chances are of the ball going where, or he knows where the line and length of a bowler is so you can set angles in such a way,” Bhuvneshwar explained.
These remarks come at a time when MS Dhoni has once again taken up the captaincy for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025, stepping in after Ruturaj Gaikwad suffered an elbow injury. It’s yet another reminder of how Dhoni continues to lead with composure and unmatched cricketing instincts—qualities Bhuvneshwar sees mirrored in Lionel Messi.