IPL 2023: MS Dhoni taught me how not to get agitated during crucial moments - Steve Smith

Australian star cricketer Steve Smith had his first stint as a captain in the IPL 2017 when he was appointed the skipper of now defunct, Rising Pune Supergiant. Back then the spotlight was on the Aussie as to how will he manage a team that had MS Dhoni as a member.

After a dull first season as RPS captain, Dhoni, one of the most successful IPL captains, was sacked from the job by the franchise and Smith was appointed his successor.

Constant support and guidance of the former India captain, Smith successfully led the franchise to the finals where they missed out on the title by just a one-run margin against Mumba Indians.

Smith has now returned to the IPL 2023 as part of the expert panel on Star Sports and the talented Aussie batter fondly recollected his experiences of working with Dhoni and leading a team.

In an exclusive interview with Star Sports, the official television broadcasters of the TATA IPL 2023, Smith spoke about his experience of captaining RPS and the significant role played by Dhoni in that season.

Smith claims he was initially daunted by the idea of leading a team that had Dhoni in it and expressed his gratitude towards the legendary cricketer for his guidance and support on and off the field.

Steve Smith Hails MS Dhoni

The Aussie - who is one of the best batters in the red-ball format at the moment - also spoke about the valuable lessons he learned from Dhoni's calm and composed demeanour, which he has since tried to emulate in his own leadership style.

Speaking exclusively to Star Sports, the official television broadcaster of the IPL 2023, Smith said, "Of course, you know he's been able to achieve so much over such a long period of time, he's going to go down as one of the best leaders to play the game for sure.

"So, you know, when I got the call to say that they wanted me to captain, it was a little bit daunting. But that season, MSD was just wonderful. You know, he helped in any way that he could and, he's a terrific guy. It was a great experience being able to captain him, but also very daunting as well."

Smith also spoke on the emotions he went through when he got selected as the captain of the RPS team and how he felt leading a side which had Dhoni in it. He claimed he didn't know what to expect from the senior wicketkeeper-batter at the start.

"Yeah, I, I didn't really know what to expect initially, you know, MS had captained every team he played for, obviously throughout the IPL with Chennai, every season should I say. But yeah, when they came and asked me, I was a little bit shocked at first, and then I didn't really know what to say.

"It was like, have you spoken to MS about this? This is a little bit strange from my side, but after we sorted everything out, MS was just wonderful. And the way he helped me and helped guide that team that year was incredible. And yeah, I couldn't thank him enough," Smith claimed.

Recalling how it was to work on the field with Dhoni, the Aussie cricketer - who will be making his commentary debut in the IPL this season - said, "Well, it was a while ago now, but yeah, look out on the field.

He was someone on that I was bouncing ideas off. You know, being behind the stumps, he's got a great, great view of the game. He understands the angles really well and obviously playing in India also, you know, it's his home and he understands those conditions as well as anyone would.

"So, you know, I would've been stupid if I wasn't trying to get as much knowledge as I could out of him in the middle. And yeah, he was very helpful and certainly helped us achieve what we did that year."

Smith further spoke about what he has been able to learn and emulate from Dhoni over the years, he said, "I think just the calmness that MS shows, we saw it throughout his career, just how calm he was. It didn't look like he was flustered by any emotions or anything like that.

"And that's certainly something that I've taken in not just in that season, but just watching him go about his business in the prior years, just how calm and relaxed he was.

"And you know, at times I can get quite agitated and things like that. So you know, I have to try and keep myself as calm and as sort of levelheaded as I can. And yeah, that's certainly something that I learned off of MS."