Respect for Dhoni will always remain sky high: Kohli

A "mentor without being assertive" was how Virat Kohli Monday described Mahendra Singh Dhoni, whose seamless transition from a two-time World Cup winning skipper to just another player in the team earned him "sky-high respect" from his successor.

Playing in his last World Cup, Dhoni has been a mentor to all the current players including the skipper himself, and all of them are fiercely loyal towards the former skipper.

"From the respect point of view for MS, it's always going to be sky high, especially in my eyes, because I know how difficult it can be to make a transition from captaining also," Kohli's reply to a question on the former skipper was filled with admiration.

"It's not easy to be another player in the side after captaining it for decades and therein lies Dhoni's greatness. Being a mentor but without being assertive, which the team acknowledges."
"At the same time, I go ask him anything, he's there giving me advice and he's never shying away from that. So yeah, he's been outstanding and I'm delighted that I have been able to play for so many years alongside him."
"When a person has done so much for the team you have to appreciate and acknowledge how he's handled and taken the respect for Indian cricket so high all over the world. We are all very grateful for what he's done for Indian cricket and for us."