Dear proud critics,
“I am completely baffled. What’s going on! This is not what India needed. They need runs. What are they doing? Some Indian fans are leaving now. Surely they must want to see Dhoni go for his shots, even if he slogs it off in the air,” a popular commentator said.
“No more Mr. Dependable? How MS Dhoni is adding to India’s middle-order struggles” a news headline read.
To add more: “His lethargic innings of 28 runs in 52 balls against Afghanistan, one of the weaker teams in the tournament raised quite a few eyebrows.”
Criticisms have always surrounded Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s career, experts and even spectators have never thought for even a flat second before questioning the former Indian captain’s decisions and skills. Now that his is a case running on the outskirts of the selection circuit, the Indian cricket team is desperately looking for a viable substitute for a person who can bat well, be consistent behind the stumps and also take fair decisions at crucial times.
With the twenty20 World Cup just 11 months from now, India needs to choose the right candidate for the job before it is too late.
Our expectations quickly outgrew the 37-year-old’s capacity whenever he performed a strategic surgery on the field and put the opponent down with peace and quiet. Now, the country expects a similar quality of cricket to be played by Dhoni’s successor in his absence.
“Dhoniiiii finishes off in style. A magnificent strike into the crowd. India lift the World Cup after 28 years. The party’s started in the dressing room. And it’s an Indian captain, who’s been absolutely magnificent, in the night of the final,” were the words of Ravi Shastri.
The country still remembers that helicopter hit Kulasekara and Dhoni’s innings of 91* which got India the World Cup in 2011. Whenever I pass through the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, the entire picture runs in my mind, beautiful scenery of roaring fans, hopeful players and the victory glittered with firecrackers.
Champions Trophy,2013: Leading a young pack of players, M.S. demonstrated perfect captaincy skills to take India past the other strong teams in breathtaking contests, winning every ball to show dominance.
The Chennai Superkings are always excited when ‘Thala’ comes out and plays with conscious bravery. After been signed by the side in 2008, Dhoni actively contributed in two consecutive victories and one more in the comeback year (2018). MSD has not only created victory campaigns but also has been an architect of numerous young careers.
His biggest allegation is being a hypocrite, critics blame him for forcing the veteran opener Sehwag out of the squad due to fitness concerns and not backing out when it’s his time to leave. Just one question: Is Mahendra Singh Dhoni not fit? The day the answer is ‘no’ MSD will retire before any further waste of time.
“If you don’t really have a dream, you can’t really push yourself; you don’t really know what the target is.”
~ M.S.Dhoni
With love,
Another cricket analyst.
