5 things we will miss about Dhoni in Test Cricket

3. He could change a game with his bat alone

He announced himself in the Test arena with a brutal 148 against Pakistan

Dhoni has a highest score of 224 in Tests against Australia in 2013 at Chennai. He also once made 76 runs from 159 balls in an effort to save a Test match against England at Lord’s in 2007.

He made a big difference coming in at no.6 or no.7 in the batting line-up. No matter what people say about his batting technique in the format, he still ended up with an average of close to 40. He was capable of going for very quick runs, a feat he achieved against Pakistan in 2006 when he scored a brilliant and devastating 148 against Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Danish Kaneria. At the same time, he could also bat out a few overs in order to save a game.

India got a wicketkeeper who was also a very good batsman after a very long time. Before him, India had great keepers, technically sound, but short on batting prowess. Keepers like Sadanand Vishwanath, Kiran More, Nayan Mongia were great keepers, but apart from Farokh Engineer, no other keeper could change the course of the game only based on their batting. Dhoni was able to do it, proficient against both spin and pace, using his unique batting technique.

4. His behind the stump quips

Dhoni kept encouraging his bowlers

The wicket keeping community is filled with chirpy characters. A keeper is responsible to keep the morale of the team up and keep all the fielders around the bat on their toes.

Dhoni mastered this art with his banter from behind the stumps. He used to challenge his bowlers into bowling where he wanted and show some spirit when the tide was not going India’s way or urging his fielders to be alert all the time.

Young cricketers or fielders who had a lapse of concentration bore the brunt of Dhoni’s remarks.

5. That smile on his face irrespective of the result

Dhoni was the ultimate team man

Dhoni is often referred to as Captain Cool. He always had a smile on his face even when things were not going his way in Tests. There were calls for him to step down after India lost 4-0 each to Australia and England in 2011 after being the number 1 team in Tests for more than a year. But Dhoni weathered the storm of criticism and hatred to maul Australia 4-0 at home in 2013.

His habit of sending youngsters for press conferences when things went well and face the media was laudable. And whenever India lost, he took the blame on himself.

India saw a great run at home under him, but at the same time he also had a miserable run overseas. The conditions and an ill-prepared team were to be blamed for the debacle of 2011, but Dhoni took every barb and hate on himself, defending his team and decisions with that trademark smile.