Gary Kirsten (right) played his last series under Graeme Smith’s captaincy, and coached South Africa

Graeme Smith has received an mammoth compliment from former India coach and former South African opener, Gary Kirsten, who called the just-retired South African legend the “best captain that has ever lived” in Test cricket.

The South African called time on his international cricket career after a successful run that saw him being handed over national captaincy at 22, following the ICC World Cup 2003.
Smith, under whom Kirsten played the final four Test series of his career, said, “Is he the best captain ever in Test match cricket? In my view he must be.”

“I don’t think anyone had led as long. We know that. He has taken South Africa to great heights. The kind of success he has had, the kind of success he has taken South African cricket to, I would argue that he is the best captain that has ever lived,” Kirsten was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. Dhawan was bought home by KXIP after a close bidding among Mumbai Indians (MI), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Delhi Daredevils (DD), Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab outfit at the IPL auctions.

Dhawan said his good showing in the domestic circuit and the limited opportunities he got with star-studded Mumbai squad, which won the IPL and the Champions League T20, caught the eye of franchise owners.