Has the time come to write off M S Dhoni


Whenever I hear Mahendra “M S” Dhoni coming to bat, I leave all business to watch smiting Dhoni playing his shots. It’s not only me who holds this view about one of the greatest finisher India has so far got. I remember watching a live interview of M S Dhoni on a news channel in 2004 before his debut in Indian ODI squad. He was being interviewed at JSCA International cricket complex, wearing a red t-shirt, his signature long locks drenched in sweat. Who could imagine a desi cricketer speaking in Hindi will soon become the most favorite sportsperson in the world. Soon after he joined Indian cricket team in 2004, he was offered the captaincy of the team in 2007 when Rahul Dravid, the then Indian cricket captain decided to give up the challenging role. Dhoni was quite young at that age, just 26 to shoulder the responsibility. But with his flamboyant personality and fearless attitude towards the game, he soon became trepidation for the oppositions. 

His contribution to Indian cricket can be understood from the facts that during his captaincy, India has had No.1 test ranking, won World Cup in 2011 and T20 World Cup in 2007 besides many more series inland or abroad. In the final of ICC World Cup 2011 against Sri Lanka, M S Dhoni scored 91 runs off 79 deliveries to sail his team to victory. So far as wicket keeping is concerned, he takes a flash of time to stump out a batsman and is quickest in the world. He is the only cricketer in history of India who has twice received ICC ODI player of the year award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Padam Shri and Padam Bhushan to name the few.          

This is his charisma, that Time magazine has once included him in the list of 100 most influential people in the world. Though there are many peculiar shots in the books of cricket, but his espousal with cricket gave birth to his signature helicopter shot.  

In Indian Premier League, he has been consistently playing for Chennai Super Kings and has set many records. So far in all IPLs taken together he has scored 4172 runs off 180 matches.

But time never remains the same. After every dawn there is dusk which follows. Dhoni has also recently had a bad phase of his career where he was brutally panned for his poor performance, slow scoring rate and failure to finish the match in a way he was once known for. He was blamed a few times for and was declared responsible for the defeat of team India. He may have trouble sometimes with his hitting abilities but his sprinting between the wickets, stealing quick singles and twos, lightning fast stumping have no match. Is it easy to don the gloves for a whole inning and then perform with bat in every match? He bid adieu to test cricket in 2015 already and his cricket fraternity is murmuring about his retirement from ODI too. But a lion is a lion and when it roars, the whole jungle mesmerizes. His current performance in IPL 2019 is enough to evident the same. He may not be as stylish as Sachin, as consistent as Kohli, as young and energetic as Rohit Sharma but he is true leader and a real mentor to Indian Team. His presence in dressing room is in itself an inspiration to youngsters.

Many young cricketers have acknowledged him as their role model. Some fragrances don’t fade away. And I am very proud to say that Mahendra Singh Dhoni is such an aroma that will never fade away from the memory of cricket fans.  

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