Dhoni India's most popular captain, says Sunil Gavaskar

With skipper Rohit Sharma and his deputy Shikhar Dhawan being rested after four matches in six days, it was nothing but sheer destiny that India's most successful captain walked out alongside match referee Andy Pycroft and Afghanistan skipper Asghar Afghan for the toss in their Asia Cup game.

Sunil Gavaskar termed MS Dhoni as the most popular Indian captain after the wicket-keeper batsman returned as the leader of the Indian ODI side after a gap of almost 2 years during the Asia Cup Super 4 match against Afghanistan at Dubai.

"He is hundred percent the most popular Indian captain," said Sunil Gavaskar seeing Dhoni walk out for the toss alongside match referee Andy Pycroft and Afghanistan skipper Asghar Afghan.

Dhoni again got the opportunity to lead India after India decided to rest five regulars including captain Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Shikhar Dhawan for the inconsequential match against Afghanistan. India have already booked their place in the finals and Afghanistan are out of the tournament after losing to Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Dhoni became the first Indian and the third in the world to captain in 200 ODIs with the other two being Australia's Ricky Ponting (captain in 230 ODIs) and New Zealand's Stephen Fleming (captain in 218 ODIs). 

"I was not really sure of where I am standing. I have captained in 199 ODIs, so this gives me an opportunity to make it 200. It's all destiny and I always believed in that," Dhoni said with a poker face when Russell Arnold posed the question at the toss.

Since numbers didn't matter during his halcyon days, it was all the more expected that it would matter even less when he is in the twilight of his illustrious career.

"It's not in my control, once I left captainship," he said when asked if he ever thought that he would be able to complete 200 ODIs as captain.