MS Dhoni explains his decision to allow youngsters to hold trophies after wins

What's the story?

MS Dhoni has been lauded in the past for his graciousness in victory, and his act of allowing youngsters in the team to hold aloft major trophies after victories has drawn effusive praise from all corners of the cricketing fraternity.

In a recent interview with Aaj Tak, the former Indian skipper spoke about the reasons behind taking such a decision.

"It’s just that, if there is any youngster in the team who has performed well in the series and you hand him over the trophy, it works as an appraisal for him. You are appreciating what he has done. It gives them a lot of confidence.

"At the end of the day, we have won the trophy. It doesn’t matter who holds it. But if I hand it over to some youngster and I’m getting some assurance that he could perform better in the future by this gesture, then it’s a win-win situation for us,” he added.

In case you didn't know...

Dhoni has won all the major ICC tournaments - the 2007 ICC World T20, 2011 World Cup, 2013 Champions Trophy - as captain of the Indian team and is their most successful and respected skipper.

The heart of the matter

Dhoni admitted that giving youngsters in the team the opportunity to lay their hands on trophies helps them grow, something that is immensely beneficial for the team. That statement is ample proof of his humble nature on the field. Players like Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Ravi Ashwin, to name a few, grew as individuals during his tenure as the skipper.

His actions have rubbed off on current skipper Virat Kohli as well. Kohli replaced Dhoni as the skipper of the ODI team earlier this year and has enjoyed massive success, having not lost a series as yet. Kohli too has been seen encouraging youngsters to stake their claim, and often giving them the chance to taste success.

What's next?

While Dhoni is currently not the skipper of the side, he can still be seen offering advice to Kohli and the other players on the pitch. His presence will be vital when Team India take the field against New Zealand for three ODIs beginning 22nd, followed by three T20Is.

Author's take

A simple man who has seen the crests and troughs of life, Dhoni has always put his interests behind the team's, constructing an Indian side filled with players who have performed as a unit.

Always gleaming on the extremities of team photos, away from the limelight and the people holding the trophy, Dhoni is a living example of a success story driven by ideals of modesty, honesty and simplicity.