Former Bengal captain Prakash Bothar, who first recommended Dhoni to the BCCI, said, ‘This boy is a valuable addition to the Indian team.’
Former Indian domestic cricketer Prakash Bothar passed away on December 29, 2022 at the age of 82. The former Bengal captain had recommended MS Dhoni’s name to the BCCI when he was the talent development officer. After that, Dhoni created an era within the Indian team and in world cricket.
Born on 25 October 1940 in Kolkata, Prakash Bothar played domestic cricket for Bengal and Rajasthan. In his domestic cricket career, Bothar played 74 first-class matches and scored 3,868 runs at an average of 40. His highest score in first-class cricket is 199, while he has scored an astonishing total of 11 centuries.
Bothar started his cricket career only in 1976/77 season. In his first List-A match, he was unbeaten on 28*.
How Prakash Bothar played a key role in Dhoni’s rise!
MS Dhoni is considered by many to be one of the greatest cricketers of all time. During his time as the captain of the Indian cricket team, MS Dhoni achieved many great victories. MS Dhoni holds the record of being the only captain to win the ICC T20 World Cup, ICC ODI World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy. Dhoni also has the honor of leading the Indian team to the number one spot in the ICC Test rankings.
There has been one person who has been the driving force for India to bring out such a prodigious talent, and he is Potahar. Long before Dhoni helped the Indian team win several trophies, Prakash Bothar discovered him and recommended his name to the top management of the BCCI.
In 2002, the BCCI introduced Talent Resource Development (TRD) officers to fast-track young and promising talent across the country. A DRT official said that it was then that he suggested Dhoni’s name.
Speaking about Dhoni, Potthar said, “When I first saw Dhoni, I felt that if we could formalize the way he used his skill and power, he would be a valuable player for Indian cricket. That’s why I recommended him to the National Cricket Academy,” Bothar once said about Dhoni.
It may be noted that Pothar worked as a TRD officer for one year. He has also served as a Junior National Selector.