There is so much the world knows about Dhoni, this will be so little to write about –
I bunked my Chemistry practicals on a certain rainy morning in September of 2007. The reason for it, made it worth the miss. In retrospect, it was a day to remember to witness something bigger than my act.
Indian Cricket Team had won the maiden Twenty -20 World Cup and had arrived at the Mumbai Airport. The team was supposed to reach Churchgate via road on an open roof double-decker bus. And I, hoped to reach Wankhede before the team made it. I somehow made it in lieu of bunking the college. From the Vinoo Mankad Gate as the players started to walk to the dressing room, myself at a comfortable position could see each of one them pass by. Some exhibited their glory as they strutted past me from a distance of about 4 feet. Some appeared cheerful as walked without any pride – Dinesh Karthik was one those.
And at the end, someone without any bit of care in the air appeared and walked past with a smile as I looked at him in the eyes. Calm, composed, cool as a ice cube – Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
He didn’t seem to be so called captain of the world reigning cricket team. Neither did he appear to be representing one of the biggest sport played in India. No tantrums; neither façade, nor overt display of emotions. Among all the fanfare, he still appeared to be the person he wanted to be – the quint-essential finisher India has ever produced; the one who knew what his job was and did it very well.
If we go back to the era when India didn’t have a recognizable wicket-keeper who could also bat well when required, competing with Ridley Jacobs, Adam Gilchrist or Mark Boucher was distant indescribable dream. It were those times when Rahul Dravid, so the India cricket fanatics would admit, was being over-worked for his cricketing duties – of being a rock solid defence at number 3 plus keeping wickets. Then, all of a sudden Saurav Chandidas Ganguly legendarily emphasized for selecting someone from the East Zone who sported long flowing hair and was known to hit sixes. Thus, MS Dhoni announced his arrival against Pakistan in 2005 at Vizag, for the world to sit up and take notice.
As cricket fans we were relieved for the search of dependable wicket keeper batsman, never did we know that there was much in store. From being the captain across all three cricketing formats, Dhoni brought some things – unmatched in style and unseen anytime before. If we can exaggerate this to a limit to infinity; he had started to show that he kind of had a Midas touch. The cricketing acumen that he possessed was by far the best the world had seen. He displayed that his understanding quotient of the game was better than the opposition which at times outsmarted the best teams in the world.
Dhoni was still a human like all us. However, he showcased complete calmness on the field. His emotion free demeanor is what probably made him take a defeat or loss in the same stride. This was something which wasn’t seen into generation of cricketers before except a few. He made it look so effortlessly easy.
The act of hitting big sixes we must confess wasn’t something we hadn’t witnessed before. The Pataudis, or the Salim Durranis had pioneered it much much before. The thing that separated Dhoni from the lot was his ability to innovate. He popularized the ‘helicopter shot’ as they called it, and took it to the next level. He may be accused of taking the matches towards the very end at times, however his approach of completing the formalities with huge shots compensated all that. If Michael Bevan was someone with a reputation to finish games, Dhoni made sure that he finishes off in style and plays his shots which flew like a tracer bullet.
The Cricket Pundits may argue that he wasn’t the one the best technically correct batting persons, however they wouldn’t refuse to admit that he was the best in terms of running between the wickets. In 2019 World Cup game, he converted the 2’s into 3’s with Virat, and had shown the world that even this can be done. Well, this was certainly beyond normal comprehension. As a wicket keeper, he immortalized something which was a concept, to keep hands very close to the stumps for collection of the ball. Earlier this way of wicket-keeping was known to have done by the likes of Farooq Engineer. Dhoni got it back in fashion and made it trending for other to follow. Not to forget, this was most likely the very reason of the lightning fast stumping dismissals that he made appear - so stylish.
‘Carpe Diem’ they say, that is to seize the moment. Dhoni just personified it for all us. His exhibitions and histrionics on field were too heroic to even be described. One of those moments romanticized the happy ending of 2011 world cup for every cricket fan and made it a moment for a lifetime. Sunny Gavaskar once said, “He would want to see that six by Dhoni, before he bids good-bye to the world”. This explains it.
In India, everyone has their share of controversies which could be described endlessly on the usual evening tea with Marie Biscuits or on the Banarasi Pan Stall at the end of every street. Dhoni has had his too which couldn’t be forgotten. However, that should be kept for some other day.
Amidst the decorated career, if there is one situation that Dhoni could rewind and replay in his life it would that final run-out that happened at 1929 hours. Interestingly, his first one day innings was also a run-out; but for a duck. Some moments never do come back. That’s how life is.
If we can remember Dhoni today let’s do it for his ONE thing. If at all, there is one quality that Dhoni has surpassed to the next batch of cricketers is the ceaseless confidence. He gave a renovated dream to the hinterlands and smaller towns of India that they could conquer the world and he has shown them how as well – with pose and grace.
We may miss his typical 2 or 3 bat rotations before taking the unassuming confident stance. We could miss the quick running between the wickets. We shall definitely miss the sixes. The whole of Jharkhand shall miss, “Mahi maar raha hai”. And, India would miss the captain cool who patrolled the field positions from behind the wickets. Some day we had to. And some day we do realize, that day is this.
There is a lot of void in the heart of fans as they realize these are big shoes to fill. Some wicket keeper batsman would have to fill. This time the benchmarks have been set high.
May be for some time we would miss and remember these times whenever the Pal Do Pal ka Shayar song plays on our music players. That would remind us of the poetic end of the momentary ‘shayar’, as he called himself – thorough the song on his Instagram handle.
May be after a few seasons of the IPL we shall get on with habit of not seeing MS. May be it would difficult for us in the beginning of that phase of not having him in the playing eleven in blue. We would put on that habit eventually with time; maybe.
