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Mohammad Yousuf names MS Dhoni appointment as decisive moment in Indian cricket's rise

Former Pakistan international Mohammad Yousuf recently pointed to the 2007 ODI World Cup as a major turning point that drove the contrasting fortunes of Indian and Pakistani cricket. Following early exits by both squads in the Caribbean, leadership choices made by the respective boards charted vastly different paths, with Yousuf praising the decision to install MS Dhoni at the helm of the Indian side.

Beyond senior leadership, Yousuf commended the structural efforts of Rahul Dravid in cultivating junior talent and building a reliable developmental pipeline.

In contrast, Yousuf raised concerns regarding Pakistan's difficulties in identifying top-tier batsmen after 2019, contrasting current rosters with the batting depth seen in the 1980s and 1990s. Drawing from his time as a batting coach, he remarked that certain contemporary players have shown reluctance to embrace instruction or dedicate extra hours to improvement.

He did, however, highlight the tenure of Sarfaraz Ahmed as a more successful phase of leadership marked by unselfish team prioritization.

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