MS Dhoni the inspiration behind emergence of wicketkeeper captains in IPL: Jos Buttler

Rajasthan Royals (RR) and England cricketer Jos Butler feels that Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the inspiration behind the rise of wicketkeeper captains in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

In IPL 2021, four of the eight teams have their wicket-keepers as their captains, and Butler believes that Dhoni has inspired this trend.

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KL Rahul of Punjab Kings (PBKS), Rishabh Pant of Delhi Capitals (DC), and Sanju Samson of Rajasthan Royals (RR) are the other three in IPL 2021 playing the dual role of keeper and captain for the team, besides Dhoni himself who captains Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

“I am sure MSD (Dhoni) has something to do with the sixth sense and breeding of wicketkeepers who can captain. He obviously has been a fantastic captain and there are lots of players who want to follow his footsteps,” told Butler to PTI Bhasha in an interview.

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Buttler himself a wicketkeeper, feels that keepers have an advantage as captains as they get a 360-degree view of the field. “I think a wicketkeeper has a brilliant view of the game. That can add to your decision-making as you can see first-hand how the wicket is behaving and the way bowlers are bowling,” he added.

The 30-year-old Englishman expects Samson to effectively perform his role as skipper and deemed his compatriot Ben Stokes as the X-factor for RR. “We have lots of variety in the team this season with some world-class all-rounders like Ben Stokes and Chris Morris and a new captain. Sanju (Samson) is very exciting player and has a long affiliation with the franchise. He is a very calm person and likes to have fun. I am sure he would try and get across that to the team. There will be a lot of passion in his leadership”, elaborated Butler.