UK media likens MSD to Michael Jordan

Marvelled by his amazing ability to win matches from nowhere, a British newspaper has likened Mahendra Singh Dhoni to the great Michael Jordan and said there was no better candidate than the Indian cricket captain for the sportsman of the 21st century award.A Dhoni has wielded his willow tremendously under pressure to win matches for not just India but also for his side in the Indian Premier League.

The sports writer first remembered how Jordan won matches in dying seconds for Chicago Bulls in NBA and his rivals watched helplessly and then narrates how Dhoni does it for India and Chennai Super Kings.

"I thought of Jordan when watching MS Dhoni win yet another match for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL on Thursday night. He left it late. He usually does. His team needed 46 from the last four overs, two of which were to be bowled by Dale Steyn, the no.1 bowler in the world. We wondered this time if he had left it too late. But Steyn's first ball was manhandled over deep mid wicket for a big six, and his second, a fast bouncer was deposited over long on for another with an extraordinary forehand smash." Hughes wrote.

Moody lauds Dhoni

Awestruck by Mahendra Singh Dhoni's swashbuckling knock against his side, former Australia all-rounder and Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody says India is "very lucky" to have the 31-year-old "special" cricketer as captain. "Dhoni is special. It is as simple as that. In any form of the game he performs remarkably. He is a very special cricketer and a very special leader. Chennai and India are very lucky to have him," Moody said.

It was Dhoni's blazing half-century that guided Chennai to a win over Hyderabad in a tense IPL match here last night.