MS Dhoni

NEW DELHI: Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has identified Indian cricket icons Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni as the most mentally resilient players he has encountered throughout his extensive career. Watson, who has had a prolific career himself, highlighted Kohli’s mental toughness and unparalleled intensity on the field. Kohli, a right-handed batsman, recently topped the scoring charts in the IPL 2024, amassing 741 runs for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. “There’s only really a couple of other people that I’ve played with or played against who had that consistent intensity every moment of every game. So that’s something about Virat, that we’ve seen in this IPL, just how engaged he is. That’s why he’s been able to sustain such high performances for such a long period of time,” said Watson.On the other side, former Indian captain MS Dhoni is praised for his different approach to the game. Despite a lower intensity level compared to Kohli, Dhoni’s ability to trust his intuition and simplify complex situations into manageable concepts stands out. Even at 42, Dhoni’s strategic acumen and leadership qualities continue to shine.“But then you’ve got on the other side of the fence is MS Dhoni, who is opposite of that intensity from Virat. He doesn’t need to be like nine out of 10 with his intensity level; he needs to be at around six. Even at the ripe of age of 42, he still knows how to be able to let his mind be free to be able to access his skills that are so deeply ingrained,” praised the former Austalia international.Watson also discussed the mental preparation necessary for players transitioning from IPL conditions to international tournaments, such as the Men’s T20 World Cup. He commented, “These are world-class cricketers who are going from an IPL, for example, and they’re gonna have to make little adjustments to the conditions and pitches that they’re gonna be facing. Also, whether it’s temperature, and a new team environment as well. That’s where by understanding these mental skills deeply and applying those into just who you are, you build a really strong, like a bulletproof cocoon around you.”Furthermore, Watson commended Australian captain Pat Cummins for his leadership qualities, particularly his ability to foster an environment where players can express themselves freely and perform without fear of failure. “He gives you the right information to be able to clear your mind so you can, and are getting the best chance of executing your skills. That’s what Pat Cummins does so incredibly well. The reason why in my mind, he’s had so much success is that it’s just natural, which is who he is, how he is and he’s not trying to be someone else,” said Cummins’s compatriot.(Inputs from IANS)