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Bas ek hello dream adhura reh gaya (just one dream remained unfulfilled),” laments Ram Babu, the ardent MS Dhoni fan. “I wanted to see Mahi sir retire on the ground with me waving the India flag from the stands and then next to him. If he had done it that way, I and the entire country would have felt better.”
For 15 years, Babu had criss-crossed India and different international locations in the subcontinent to cheer Dhoni in virtually 200 India video games. The group would give him a complimentary go, and like Tendulkar fan Sudhir Chaudhary, Babu too would paint the tri-colour on his physique with 7, Dhoni’s jersey quantity, outstanding.
Also learn: You will at all times be my captain: Virat Kohli to MS Dhoni another time
Though Dhoni’s die-hard followers will likely be disillusioned, the timing has been good. Had he chased a grand farewell, Dhoni would have unnecessarily stretched his India profession. An ICC ODI World Cup semifinal, with a combating half-century in the final innings, although in a shedding trigger, isn’t that dangerous. It saved India, 92/6 at one stage, humiliation as they ended simply 18 runs quick of victory.
If Dhoni doubted whether or not there was fuel in the tank in that sport towards New Zealand, he merely had to have a look at the different finish. Ravindra Jadeja was the aggressor and Dhoni was backing up (his strike charge was 69.44 to Jadeja’s 130.50). At his prime, it will be Dhoni who would have taken on the bowling.
Ajit Agarkar, who performed in Dhoni’s India debut sport, recollects: “Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh changed the concept of chasing in ODIs. They were so good at it that after their success, other teams also started to field first on winning the toss.”
The former India all-rounder lists the efforts he noticed from the dressing room. “His 183 not out (145 balls) versus Sri Lanka at Jaipur (2005) and the chase at Lahore (ODI vs Pakistan, 2006)—Sri Lanka had posted a massive total (298/4) and Dhoni batted at No. 3 and won it. The atmosphere in the dressing room went crazy when he started smashing sixes (10). At Lahore too, Pakistan had posted a very good total (288/8) and their bowlers were in fine rhythm. Dhoni finished it off (72* off 46 balls) with a big partnership with Yuvraj.”
Also learn: MS Dhoni Retirement – Career, stats and Records
“He is a lovely guy who would get along with everyone in the dressing room,” says Agarkar. “He has stayed that way. Whenever he meets, he is very courteous.”
Brand Dhoni took form in that sport due to his mane as Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf informed Dhoni at the presentation: “A lot of placards in the crowd have suggested that you should get a haircut, but if you take my advice, you look good in this hairstyle.”
Dhoni’s model worth has remained enormous. In such conditions, a lot consideration goes into taking retirement calls. Despite retirement often making a dent on model worth, he would have seen the writing on the wall.
Wriddhiman Saha, India’s first-choice Test wicketkeeper in robust, spin-friendly circumstances, talks about their camaraderie. “Like to the rest of the world, he was also an example to me. Be it in the India dressing room or at Chennai Super Kings, I never stopped learning from Dhoni. I implemented a lot of that in my career.
“I remember during the 2014-15 Australia tour—the first Test was delayed due to Phil Hughes’s death. (Skipper) Dhoni was supposed arrive later as he had a finger injury but joined the squad three days before the Test. The first thing he told me was ‘Saha, tension mat le, tu hi khelega, main nahi’ (Don’t worry, you’re playing, not me)’.”
Also learn: You will at all times be my captain: Virat Kohli to MS Dhoni another time
Saha’s Test profession began beneath Dhoni. The Bengal keeper recollects how the captain nonchalantly knowledgeable him about his choice. “My debut (Nagpur, 2010) also happened just like that. I was giving throwdowns to S Badrinath. Dhoni was going for toss when he saw me and said, ‘You’re playing’. I smiled at him nervously. He started walking but stopped, turned to me and said: ‘I’m serious, you’re playing’.”
A senior’s profession relies on how indispensable he’s to the group. With Rishabh Pant inconsistent, Dhoni was the back-up choice in shorter codecs. But KL Rahul rising as a protected conserving choice shut the door on him.
His guiding bowlers from behind the wicket will likely be missed although. “He will be missed immensely, especially (by) the bowlers,” says ex-India ’keeper Kiran More, who was chief selector when Dhoni was first picked in 2004. “The ideas he gave, talking to the spinners, telling them where to bowl to which batsman in what situation—that made a huge impact on the team’s performances.”
LEADERSHIP JOURNEY
Dhoni’s greatest legacy will likely be his foresight as a pacesetter. India are amongst the dominant groups beneath Virat Kohli, and VVS Laxman largely credit Dhoni for the present facet’s success, how he dealt with transition when seniors—Laxman himself, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and Sachin Tendulkar—retired or pale away.
“Watch him grow as a person and leader is something I would cherish. Standing at slips next to him for most of my career, I could see how brilliant he was. Seeing his interactions with the players, it was evident how he would address the situation. His reading of the game was impeccable. I really admired his equanimity as far as results were concerned,” he says. “He has inspired everyone and been a great ambassador for the game.”
Dilip Vengsarkar, who was chief selector when Dhoni was appointed skipper, says: “He was not even captain of his state team when we appointed him for the 2007 World T20. You select a person (captain) with your gut feeling; you don’t know how he will fare but he proved to be one of the greatest.”
August 15 was an emotional day for Keshav Banerjee, former bodily schooling instructor at Dhoni’s faculty in Ranchi. It was he who planted the seeds of wicketkeeping in the boy’s thoughts and has adopted his profession with pleasure. The emotional Banerjee says: “Retirement is always a sad day, whether you retire from service or as a sportsperson. It has been very fulfilling to see Dhoni. I merely helped Dhoni; he helped Indian cricket.”
(Inputs by Sanjjeev Okay Samyal, Somshuvra Laha, Rutvick Mehta)
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