Ganguly and Dhoni at the Top: Sachin Tendulkar Reveals Favourite Captains
Sachin Tendulkar reveals his favourite captains to play under and reflects on his own captaincy struggles during a Reddit AMA session.
In a candid and engaging Reddit 'Ask Me Anything' (AMA) session on Tuesday, the legendary Sachin Tendulkar opened up about the leaders who left the deepest impact on him during his illustrious career. When asked to identify his favourite captains to have played under, the Master Blaster didn't hesitate to place Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni at the very top of his list.
Reflecting on the Captaincy Burden
While Tendulkar is celebrated as one of the greatest batters in history, he also stepped into the leadership role, captaining the Indian Test side in 25 matches across two separate stints between 1996 and 2000. While he viewed the opportunity as a "great honour," he admitted that the journey was fraught with challenges.
Tendulkar highlighted a significant difference between the current era and the 1990s, noting that he didn't always possess the autonomy to select his team independently. He remarked that the BCCI has evolved into a far more professional organization today, contrasting it with what he described as a "particularly dark phase" for Indian cricket during his tenure as captain.
His leadership journey ended in March 2000 following a home series loss to South Africa. Interestingly, Tendulkar revealed that he declined an offer to return as the Test captain in 2007, a path that eventually led to the rise of MS Dhoni's leadership.
Global Admiration for Temba Bavuma
Moving beyond the borders of India, Tendulkar shared his admiration for South African skipper Temba Bavuma. The legendary batter praised Bavuma's spirit and his ability to lead from the front, which culminated in South Africa's victory in the 2025 World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's.
"I truly admire Temba Bavuma’s spirit. He has led from the front and delivered some remarkable results for South African cricket. South Africa winning an ICC title is great for world cricket!"
Witty Banter and the 'Sanju Samson' Mystery
The AMA session wasn't all serious reflection; Tendulkar displayed his trademark wit when asked which of the era's legendary batters—including the likes of Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, and Jacques Kallis—he enjoyed bowling to the most. His response was a playful boast: "Enjoyed bowling to all of them because I got all of them out! Haha!"
The session took a humorous turn when the topic shifted to Sanju Samson. The wicketkeeper-batter, who was the Player of the Tournament in India's 2026 Men's T20 World Cup win with 321 runs, had previously credited Tendulkar for providing mental clarity during a tough phase of his career.
When asked what specific advice he gave Samson, Tendulkar replied with a cryptic and popular Malayalam phrase: “Nee po mone Dinesha!” This phrase, which literally translates to "You go away, my boy Dinesh," is a well-known cultural catchphrase in Kerala used playfully to tell someone to "get lost" or dismiss an overconfident argument.
A Legacy of Numbers
Representing India from 1989 to 2013, Sachin Tendulkar remains a titan of the game. He holds the unparalleled record of 100 international centuries, comprising 51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs. His dominance is further cemented by his career totals: 15,921 runs in Test cricket and 18,426 runs in One Day Internationals.