During a recent interview, Gautam Gambhir expressed his view that MS Dhoni would have likely rewritten the record books if he had been positioned at No. 3. When pressed to pick either Dhoni or Virat Kohli for a chase, Gambhir explained that the choice is difficult because their roles are entirely different: Kohli is a specialist at No. 3, whereas Dhoni typically batted at 6 or 7.
Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir said in a recent interview that he believes if Dhoni had played at No. 3 batting position, he would have broken most records. Gambhir was asked in the interview who would he choose to chase a target between the Indian skipper Kohli and Dhoni. He answered that it is tough to choose between the two players since Kohli bats at No. 3 position and Dhoni at No. 6 or 7.
Gambhir argued that the flat pitches Dhoni encountered during his formative years in Jharkhand would have given him a massive advantage, making him nearly invincible at the No. 3 spot for India. He further noted that Dhoni's career trajectory and style might have been entirely different if he hadn't spent so much energy captaining the side and had instead focused on that top-order role.
Throughout his professional journey, Dhoni primarily functioned as a lower-order batsman in all formats. It was his sharp instincts and clinical finishing that allowed him to turn the tide of matches on his own, cementing his status as 'The Finisher.' This legacy is widely recognized across the cricketing world, with many domestic and international stars hailing him as the finest finisher in history.
When posed with the same dilemma, former Indian fast bowler Irfan Pathan argued that Kohli remains the superior choice for the No. 3 position, citing Kohli's specific technical proficiency required for that part of the batting order.