Best quotes on 'legend' MS Dhoni from team-mates; Players ready to 'die', 'jump'

Bengaluru, June 24: It is not the best of the times for MS Dhoni. A ODI series loss to Bangladesh has put him under severe pressure. But his team-mates have pledged full support to their captain.

R Ashwin and Suresh Raina, Dhoni's team-mates in the national side and also Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK), yesterday (June 23) batted for the beleaguered skipper.

While Ashwin went to the extreme of saying he is ready to "die on the field" if 'legend' Dhoni asks him to, Raina took to Twitter to just write "Respect" with a picture of him and the captain with an emoji of folded hands.

This is not the first time that team-mates have backed Dhoni during a crisis. In the past too, many players have praised the wicketkeeper-batsman highly for his contributions to Indian cricket.

After the World Twenty20 victory in 2007, batsman Robin Uthappa had said he is ready to stand in front of a speeding truck for Dhoni. Recently, Ishant Sharma declared he can jump from the 24th floor of a building for his captain. (Dhoni offers to step down)

Having led by example and achieved a lot on the field (he is the only captain to have), Dhoni deserves respect. And some of his colleagues are showing it. And many more are likely to follow.

To add to that, millions of Dhoni fans are with him.

Here are some of the famous quotes from Dhoni's team-mates for the captain

Ishant Sharma - Ready to jump from the 24th floor

"If captains like Mahi bhai (Dhoni) tell you that you have to jump from the 24th floor, you would readily do that without thinking even once. Mahi bhai helped me a great deal to cope with the disappointment."

Robin Uthappa - Ready to stand in front of a speeding truck after Dhoni had said, "I need 14 players who are ready to stand in front of a truck if I ask them to."

Suresh Raina - 'Respect'

After Dhoni's Test retirement, Raina wrote, "Valiant while you led. Valiant in your departure." Yesterday he paid "Respect" to Dhoni.

🙏respect pic.twitter.com/44KMaH9m4p

— Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) June 23, 2015

R Ashwin - Ready to 'die on the field' for 'legend'

"He is a legend of Indian cricket. He has done so much for the nation"

"If you don't go behind your leader (now) then when will you? So as far as I am concerned it's like an army, if you don't go behind your leader then you are definitely going to get shot. If my captain asks me to die on the field, I'll do it."

Ajinkya Rahane - 'His contribution important in my success'

"Dhoni bhai gave me a lot of confidence, and backed me a lot. I would keep asking him ways to improve, and he would answer every question. So his contribution has been important in my success."

Virat Kohli - 'Most successful Indian captain ever'

"I don't know why people say he has not left a legacy. He is the most successful Indian captain ever. That in itself is a legacy. Most of the players in the team have been given ample opportunities by him. He believes in the youngsters. He believes in giving them opportunities."

Rahul Dravid - 'Enjoyed playing under him'

"He was a captain I enjoyed playing under. One of the things I liked about MS was, what you saw was what you got. Very uncomplicated, always led by example. One of the things I really liked about playing under MS was that he never asked you to do anything that he himself didn't do."

Sachin Tendulkar - 'Best captain I have played under'

"He is the best captain I have played under. He is very sharp and always alert. He reads the situation well and is open to sharing ideas. He always has discussions with bowlers, batsmen and senior players separately."

Sourav Ganguly - 'Respect Dhoni'

"Don't put MS Dhoni down, he has a terrific record in One dayers. Give respect to him," Ganguly's reaction after the loss to Bangladesh.

Note: All quotes complied from various media reports

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