MS Dhoni was only 26 when he was handed the captaincy of the Indian cricket team, getting the nod ahead of experienced players such as Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh.
The decision raised questions over how senior members of the dressing room would respond to a younger player leading the side.
Over the years, rumours have also suggested that the move may have caused friction within the team.
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However, former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has dismissed suggestions of dissatisfaction among senior players over Dhoni's appointment. According to Harbhajan, Dhoni knew how to bring out the best in his teammates, regardless of their experience or standing in the team.
Dhoni's leadership eventually delivered historic results for Indian cricket. He led India to three major ICC titles, the inaugural ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2007, the ICC Cricket World Cup on home soil in 2011 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013.
Why Senior Players Accepted MS Dhoni As Captain
Harbhajan represented India in 103 Tests, 236 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 28 T20 Internationals, explained why the appointment of a younger captain did not become a problem for the senior players.
Dhoni's ability to understand his teammates and get the best out of them was a key factor in his leadership. Rather than allowing differences in age or experience to become an issue, he was able to manage players with different personalities and roles within the team.
The appointment came at a time when India had several established names who could have been considered for the leadership role. Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan were among the senior players in the setup, but the team management chose Dhoni to lead the side.
The decision proved successful, with Dhoni becoming one of India's most successful captains across formats.
Harbhajan Singh's Role In India's World Cup Triumphs
Harbhajan was an important member of the Indian team that won the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007 and the ODI World Cup at home in 2011.
"Dada (Sourav Ganguly) brought in the players and made the team... the likes of myself, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag. Dhoni had a set team of experienced players who had played together for seven or eight years," Harbhajan said, in an interview with Prakhar Gupta.
"We never had an issue with Dhoni becoming the captain despite being so young. We understood the captain wasn't everything, and all 11 players had to do well for Dhoni to look good as captain. For Dhoni to be successful, it had to be a combined effort," he added.
Both triumphs came under Dhoni's captaincy and helped establish his reputation as a leader capable of delivering on the biggest stage. India subsequently won the Champions Trophy in 2013, completing a historic run of three major ICC tournament victories under his leadership.
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"Dhoni's best quality is that he never imposed himself on the individuals by telling them what to do. He knew that many of us had played for several years and were aware of what needed to be done in different situations. Dhoni only focused on how to get the best out of the players, which he was exceptional at," Harbhajan elaborated.
Dhoni's captaincy is remembered not only for the trophies but also for his ability to manage experienced players alongside younger members of the squad.
Harbhajan's comments offer a perspective on how Dhoni earned the trust of senior teammates despite being considerably younger when he first took charge of the national team.
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