MS Dhoni - In the captain we trust

Dhoni has always been a quiet individual. Everything he does is indicative of a man who doesn’t like to be ostentatious. Even after the World Cup victories of 2007 and 2011, Dhoni himself stood to one side in the pictures after the presentation of the trophy. He himself handed over the trophy to his team-mates and let them bask in the glory. It all just goes to show how he never likes to be at the centre of attention. While other celebrities and cricketers like to make a big deal out of their weddings, Dhoni himself got married in a quiet ceremony that took the media by surprise as not many were aware of it.

While there have been critics of both his batting and wicket-keeping techniques, he has excelled at both. He is often called India’s answer to Michael Bevan due to his ability to finish off games. While his wicket keeping may not be the best, there is no quicker pair of hands on display behind the wickets. The speed with which he removes the bails during stumpings or run-outs is remarkable.

What Dhoni may lack in technique, he more than makes up for by being street smart. This ability to think on his feet has served him well as a captain and is the reason behind him being India’s most successful captain. While Ganguly might have laid the foundations for all the modern successes India has had, it is Mahendra Singh Dhoni who has served the role of the architect with aplomb.

But the captaincy in all three formats has taken a toll on him and it is time a new skipper is found for at least one of the formats. England have experimented with this multiple captain theory with relative success and maybe now it’s India’s turn with Virat Kohli being considered for the role. As far as temperament goes, Kohli and Dhoni are poles apart. While Dhoni is cool yet aggressive, Kohli lets his aggression show in every action of his. He is like a hybrid of Ricky Ponting and Sourav Ganguly – an unpolished diamond in terms of captaincy, a potent mix but one that needs to be harnessed in the right way. And there is nobody better than MSD to guide him in this process.

A man who has always done his talking on the field, Mahendra Singh Dhoni should be considered one of the true legends of Indian cricket. His captaincy of both the Indian cricket team and his IPL franchise, Chennai Super Kings has been exemplary. His trophy haul for both club and country speaks volumes and is a testament to his captaincy. One can only give this warning to his critics – be careful what you wish for. For when things are at its worst, it is only individuals like MSD who can guide Indian cricket to where it truly belongs.