Typically, like a 90 kid, u grow up watching the likes of Sachin, Sehwag, Kumble, Dada, and The Wall. It was difficult to accept anyone could replace them, anyone could carry the weight of our expectations. It was impossible, or so we thought.
Then arrived a man with a long hairstyle, grinning.
Sadly, in India, we judge a player based on the swing of his bat so for us as the audience, in his first few innings, he was unimpressive. Then came his innings in Pak. We saw him as a young man who can hit sixes, we enjoyed his batting.
As most Indians consider themselves an expert in the game, I too had my doubts when he was promoted as captain. What are the selectors thinking? Then his skill started to show, as a wicketkeeper, and as captain. I started to love the energy he brought behind the stumps. The quick stumping, the impossible stretching over his head to catch Ishan’s bouncers, flick his leg to field the batter’s elegant leg glances, saving a four, or be his perfect DRS review calls.
His stance behind the wickets, made me believe that hang on, we have something special at hand here!
Often, he would just do a simple nod to the blower but when he did speak a word or two, it was not even a suggestion but was an observation. That observation with the skill of the blower produced wickets. Standing behind the stumps, he knew what the blower could do, what the blower didn’t know. He knew what the batsman was up to and what had to be done. He wasn’t afraid of consulting; a younger or senior player like Sachin. But when the time came, he was the one who took risks. Be it with his batting or in fielding. when those risks paid off, he walked calmly but when they didn’t, he stood tall defending his players.
We got to know that this man had a plan for Team India. Hence the phrase, “Dhoni abhi hain na” began doing its rounds amongst the viewers.
In close call matches, he showcased indifference to the pressure; as if he was playing some other game. In key moments he showed the perfect picks of the bowlers, and at the right moments, he promoted the young players. Then came the wins, the trophies. where was this man…?
Dr. Abdul Kalam, once said that he was inspired by the leadership of Dr. Satish Dhawan. Dr. Kalam mentioned that when the mission failed, Dr. Dawan would absorb the criticism but for all successful missions, he promoted his teammates to the center stage. I think I was lucky enough to have witnessed the same with Dhoni’s leadership. Check out his pictures, u would find him at a corner of the pictures, barely visible. See his captain’s speeches, mostly he has thanked his young teammates for handling the pressure, giving the trophies to teammates, and moving to the sides. When this man won India’s first T20 World Cup; that to over Pakistan, he simply gave his jersey to a fan in the stadium and walked away. 2011 historic World Cup win, as Harsha said it, he let that moment be all about Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
In many ways, he was like most of us, an ardent fan of the game. A man who played for the love, for the fun, for the wins, and mostly, for the country. He oversimplified the position of captain of India and almost made it look like India was on autopilot mode all these years.
Thanking him for the cricket he played would be impossible but we sure want to thank him for taking Team India to a new level.
Thank you, MS. You shall be missed. #MSD