NEW DELHI: Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar on Wednesday hailed talismanic MS Dhoni as a true embodiment of instinct in a sport where data and insight play significant roles.
Dhoni's innate instincts have propelled him to clinch five coveted IPL titles. Despite stepping down as captain of the Chennai Super Kings, his mere presence on the field exudes confidence in his team.
According to the former India cricketer, artificial intelligence can never replace someone like Dhoni, whose captaincy instincts are unparalleled and truly remarkable.
"The amount of data that's available is incredible. You can plan a whole innings and I think everybody does it now, but it doesn't mean it will work all the time. You need a captain on the ground because not everything that you've planned is going to go your way.
"On a particular day it might, but most days it won't. And that's where you need human instinct. That's why you call MS Dhoni a great captain because he had a feel for the game. He knew what was happening and how the game was changing," opined the 46-year-old former India pace bowler.
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Agarkar emphasised that while the IPL serves as a significant platform for talent scouting, what truly sets players apart is their strong temperament.
"You can see it, (IPL) keeps throwing up players out of the blue. Having been a selector for a few months, there are certain players who suddenly come and show even on the big stage. IPL is a fairly big stage because of the pressures involved, big crowds.
"You might be bowling to the top batters in the world, or you might be facing one of the top bowlers in the world, and that's when you stand up and that's where you judge the temperament of a player, whether he can do it consistently," said Agarkar on SportifywithPRG.
"It's sometimes a difficult task because of the sheer numbers (of players coming through the domestic structure) that we have. But, eventually, the more you watch players and temperament sometimes separates it."
Agarkar advocates that a tightly bonded team is often the key to success on the field.
"A tight-knit group generally helps. You don't need to be the best friends but you want to enjoy each others' success. If that doesn't happen sometimes it is a bit difficult."
(With PTI inputs)
