Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Shane Warne and Wasim Akram discuss the glittering career of former India captain MS Dhoni after he announced his retirement from international cricket

Nasser Hussain

“A great captain, probably the best white-ball captain there has ever been. “And also a cool, calm customer under pressure; a great finisher of a game, the game wasn’t won until you got Dhoni out. That is a good combination when you’re a great captain, cool and calm under pressure.

“He was involved in some of the great moments of Indian cricket. He did it his own way; a very, very fine cricketer.”

Michael Atherton

“When a player retires, what do people remember about that player? Not the average or the numbers but how they played the game and the iconic moments that they were involved in. “I would remember the hitting of that six at the Wankhede Stadium to win that World Cup in 2011. “What a fabulous player he was.”

Shane Warne

“A terrific cricketer. You think back to some of the games that he won for India, off his own back.”And you think of his captaincy, his leadership, he was a terrific competitor and a wonderful player. He will go down in history as one of the all-time great wicketkeeper-batsmen.”He had a calmness about him that was fantastic and he always got the best out of his team, whether it was India, Chennai Super Kings, whoever it was. His players really respected him and responded to the way Dhoni wanted to play the game. “In T20 cricket, especially, the best captains, their teams will be in and around the finals all the time – it’s so key in T20 cricket – and Chennai have won [the IPL] three times. “I just wonder if I could get him down to the London Spirit next year for The Hundred. I might put out a call to see if he wants to play at Lord’s. I’ll find the money, MS!”

Wasim Akram

“I saw him when he started his cricketing career, his first tour to Pakistan [in 2006], he became a mega hit because of his long hair, his batting – he got runs on that tour [a maiden Test hundred]. “He played 350 ODIs, averaging 50; he was one of the true match-winners for India. Batting at No 6 or 7, he was a finisher, he’d take the game to the last two or three overs and had every shot – the helicopter shot he created. “As a skipper, I always thought he was very calm, no matter the situation. And when you’re calm as a captain, you make right decisions. If you panic, the whole team panics and Dhoni wasn’t one of them. “On and off the field he was a true gentleman and the world will remember him, as Shane says, as one of the best wicketkeeper-batsmen ever. “He was a treat to watch, as long as he was not playing against Pakistan.”