Mahendra Singh Dhoni - Thank you for these 10 memorable years

Dhoni hugging Sachin after the famous 2011 World Cup Final victory

I remember when in 2007’s T20 inaugural World cup, M.S Dhoni was elected as the captain of the squad. It was only 3 years after he had reached the international arena and surprised one and all. Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and other seniors decided to stay away from the championship during an era when T20s were not taken seriously.

Despite his ODI batting heroics that included 148 against Pakistan and 183 against Srilanka in 2005, many still doubted if he was mature enough to handle the captaincy role as there were seniors like Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag in the team. But as the tournament progressed, everyone noticed the leadership skills of this man and how effectively he marshalled a troop of young players with ample help from the few seniors as well.

One cannot forget how he brought out his trump card – the lesser known Joginder Sharma at the crucial stages including the last over of the final for vital breakthroughs. His services as a big-hitter played an important part too with his 33-ball 45 in the match against South Africa and a crucial 87-run partnership with Rohit Sharma, which served as the turnaround in the group stage.

There is this particular frame that remains fondly in my mind from the tournament – one when the bowler knocks out the stumps of the batsman and when everyone runs towards the bowler and celebrate with excitement, while Dhoni just pumps his fist and walks forward slowly showing signs why he would be called as ‘Captain Cool’ in years to come. That is the moment when I started being the huge fan of this man.

How Dhoni became India’s captain in all three formats

Yesterday, Mahendra Singh Dhoni completed 10 years at International cricket since his debut on 23rd December 2004 against Bangladesh! It has been an amazing journey. After the 2007 T20 World Cup, Dravid stepped down as the ODI captain and Dhoni would take over the ODI side to lead the team to a memorable victory 4 years later in the 2011 ODI World cup too.

In between these World Cup wins, Dhoni would also take over the test captaincy from Kumble and help the test team climb to ICC rank No.1 in December 2009 – the first time it has ever reached there since the rankings have come into place and where they would stay for next 18 months. Today Dhoni is regarded as one of contemporary Cricket's finest captains ever.

Ganguly is often known as the Indian captain who brought radical changes to the team including nurturing a young talented team and teaching them how to fight. Dhoni made sure the efforts of Ganguly or for that matter Kumble or Dravid were not wasted and started taking the team over the finishing line more often. At the end of the 2011 World Cup, Ganguly went on record saying, "Dhoni is the greatest captain of our country. His record is proof of that.”

Dhoni is easily one of the best ODI batsmen of the current generation, boasting an average of 52.85. For batsmen who have played a minimum of 40 matches, only Hashim Amla and Michael Bevan have a better average in ODIs than Dhoni. When he arrived in ODIs in 2004, his role was more of a big hitter, who was promoted to No.3 whenever the team required quick runs.

Over the years, how he has moulded himself as a responsible batsman and adapt to the situation as the team demanded – whether to stabilize the innings or accelerate – is quite admirable. Despite legends like Dravid and Sachin quitting the arena, Yuvraj’s and Sehwag’s declining form and other young batsmen’s, barring Virat Kohli, struggling overseas against short balls, Dhoni’s stock as the most vital batsman in the ODI side further rose.

As a Test batsman, he is not doing too bad either – holding an average of 38. It was not long back in 2013 when a whirlwind 224 from 265 balls easily won his team a Test against Australia in Mumbai. His wicket-keeping skills is as good as any of his predecessors or adversaries from other countries. He is fourth and fifth in the world in ODIs and Tests respectively when it comes to most dismissals as a wicket keeper. His running between wickets is astonishing and he is often compared to Usain Bolt in that respect.

Dhoni is one of the best finishers in the game

Now we have not yet started on 'Dhoni – The Finisher' in limited overs cricket. There are few things more magical on a cricket pitch than when this man takes control of a high pressure situation during a chase with the required run rate more than a run a ball with only a few wickets remaining.

Ian Bishop once famously said, "If 15 runs are needed off the last over, pressure is on the bowler, not on MS Dhoni.” What is amazing is how over the years -whether its IPL, T20 or ODI matches – Dhoni could consistently take most of those chases to 12-15 runs needed in the final over. When he dispatches that over's first ball for a six, next for a four, uses his quick feet for a couple, calmly picks up one wicket in hand and walks to the pavilion leaving the batsman at the other end to show all the excitement and celebrate, it gives you sheer goosebumps every time.

There are few things magical on a cricket pitch than Dhoni coming out in a pressure situation and taking his team over the finish line.

His sensational final six during the match winning 91 to win the 2011 World cup final when he promoted himself boldly coming ahead of Yuvraj and led from the front would be remembered for ages. Who could also forget his punch on the helmet after smashing Irfan Pathan for sixes in Dharmashala that sent his Chennai side to Semifinals in IPL 2010? His 52-ball 45 against Sri Lanka in 2013 chasing a tricky 202 and his partnership of 20 with Ishant Sharma for the last wicket is quite memorable as is his sixer against Australia’s McKay in 2012 when 12 runs was needed in 4 balls giving India another breathtaking victory.

After the first test concluded in Australia a couple weeks ago where Indian put up a brave fight and yet lost, Sunil Gavaskar was quick to mention how dearly India missed Dhoni’s finishing abilities.

The entire nation will look up to Dhoni to provide the spark in the World Cup

India might perhaps not win a single match in the on-going Australian test series but I would not blame Dhoni because I know for a long time he has not got the bowling line-up on his side who could get him 20 wickets in a game. I would not read too much into that Dhoni still doesn't have an overseas test century because I have not forgotten the gritty 82 and 71 that he scored in England few months back even when other top order batsmen around him failed consistently.

What I know is that Dhoni still remains the pivotal point around which the entire team revolves when India walks into the ODI World cup one month from now. In one of those matches, if India loses all the top-order wickets, have a steep score to chase and yet have Dhoni on the other end, you can be assured that viewers across the country won’t still switch off their televisions.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has come a long distance these 10 years – from a duck on his ODI debut to where today you google - 'India is lucky to have', it would auto-fill 'Dhoni'. Next year when Neeraj Pandey is making a biopic on this man who rose from a small town boy in Ranchi to one of the most respected icons in the country, it is going to be as exciting on the big screen as it has been on the pitches and grounds.

Thank you Dhoni for all the goosebumps and immensely memorable moments. Thank you for these 10 awesome years. We would love it if you can give us another 10!