Dhoni lead with Modesty and Example !

PIC - BCCI

Dhoni, A man of sheer modesty, a leader who lead by example and a great captain who has bags of milestones has stepped down as captain at the helm right time. There is no dearth of doubt that any body in cricket fraternity would ever debate his legacy !!! He is the Greatest captain ever and will be in times to come.

Giving up captaincy for team's future is a small sacrifice for a man who has always come late in batting order in entire career for the team. Now Virat would lead the team in Champions Trophy and world cup as well. Probably Dhoni was knowing the "best time" had talked at lengths with the Chief selector MSK Prasad during a semi final match in Ranji Trophy and handed over the baton to the man who is leading in best fashion !!! It may be his mistake of his life as he would hardly find his place on regular basis in the limited overs as well.

Cricket is the game of uncertainty so is the captaincy in India. His mindset is not of a typical Indian player who would struggle to hang his boots. Let the time come and he would do so and people would be just guessing...Oh it was his day.


Dhoni had given up the Test captaincy in December 2014 and had uttered that let the time come I would take a call. Probably he is the best perso who knows his best...may be the gambling of handing the ball to Joginder Sharma in 2007 T-20 world cup or taking this decision.

He was India's most successful captain, leading the team to victory in the 2007 World T20 in South Africa, the 2011 World Cup in India, and the 2013 Champions Trophy in England. Dhoni captained India in 199 ODIs, of which he won 110 and lost 74. He was captain in 72 T20Is, of which India won 41 and lost 28. He was also India's most successful Test captain, with 27 wins, 18 defeats and 15 draws.

When I was just going through some stats came to know that Dhoni is also the only captain to have led India to ODI and T20I series wins in Australia, and an ODI series win in New Zealand. He is also the only man to win all 3 of the ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC World Twenty20, and ICC Champions Trophy as captain!

PIC- AFP

He would be remembered for his stats and record and so many trophies and one more thing for collecting the middle stumps. Probably the time would come when i would be able to pen down something on this habit and putting a fielder on leg gully that was his master stroke to get a wicket !

It was March 31, 2016 when MSD shared a banter in his own typical style with a reporter who asked him about retirement, after India v West  Indies, World T20 2016, semi-final at Mumbai. No body would be thinking that the decision would come so quickly. We Indians  have tendency to something more from somebody but he has given his all to the service of his nation. He is a true champion who rose from a very small town and ruled the second religion of India for so long. The captaincy takes a heavy toll on the beard as it was becoming grey two years back and virat has right now. Hope Virat would take this load to be the best in all formats! Many Memories Many emotions for which he will be cherished !

There are some If and buts to his life kit as well but this is not the right time. As an ardent fan of cricket I wish him the luck and good family life post this captain era.

Team India is an Enigma?

Team India is an enigma hard to understand, a 'food' hard to digest and a TEAM hard to buy time on watching? May be a little harsh but team BCCI sorry... India is loosing its shine from one to another overseas tours!

Dhoni, hard to understand or speculate leads a team which is an unsolved puzzle. As a captain MSD has lost his aggression (Internal), charm, Glitter, Shine, temper and probably the zeal to win the match. When the 'Captain' lacks the potential, temperament and grit the "ship is bound to sink".

His body language (even after retiring from fatigue test as he had termed it) even in ODIs look like just as a professional (who is just playing to get some crores to his kitty) not as a player who plays to win or to get result.

There is no dearth of doubt that as stat suggests he is one of the most successful captain IND has ever produced till date but for me he is just a gambler who gambles and sometimes get success.

Causes of Enigma:
Is it the same Rohit Sharma? An absolute time bomb in limited-overs cricket, but an equal disaster in Tests. Is it the same Ravichandran Ashwin, the ‘best’ spinner in the world? Or is he a square turner bully? Ravindra Jadeja is unplayable at home. Very playable and in fact  become the 'target' of rival batsmen away. Or is it the same Mahendra Singh Dhoni? Unbeatable for so long, quite beatable now?Cricket is not a gamble and you can't put money every time on a horse who is injured from one foot. You can only win games by a team effort and the right kind of attitude and spirit.

Team India probably has surpassed the transition phase of Sachin-Dravid-Laxman-Ganguly era and are winning at home on an altered pitch courtesy team director Ravi Shastri.

This is such a bizarre that you call a team (RSA) give them a pitch suited to your own potential and hashtag yourself as the 'HERO' of cricket and questions the hype about pitch! Just after a month the same team goes on a tour and find it hard to defend the total of 300+ in ODIs.You become flat on flat pitches of WACA & GAWA. The same bowler who became world number one in test cricket finds it tough to even throw a DOOSRA or TEESRA. It was 2nd ODI at Gawa and once again Australia paced their pursuit to perfection.

Excuse King DHONI :

I have never heard/seen the biggest excuser than Dhoni in cricketing fraternity! Accepting the defeat is a biggest victory, admit it of you have lost! Only accepting the defeat will strive you for victory. you will not be sacked from ur captaincy just for acceptance.

This 'back bench leader' is immensely talented in readymade excuse after every single defeat either at home or overseas. You may not agree with me but listen Dhoni after any defeat you would probably get this for sure.

"The breeze was not flowing in one way, it was circulating around. It made slightly difficult for Ishant: MS Dhoni" after loosing 2nd ODI in Australia while Ishant bowled well. sometimes back when South Africa defeated he uttered "we lost the match just because there was not so much due" As a captain you can't hide ur failure via excuse. On the contrary Australian bowlers tightened the grip in last 10 overs despite some good hittings from Rahane.

Poor Chap Dhoni :
When a reporter asks you the question of hanging ur boots..take it as an alarm. The OLD Dhoni is probably missing! OOOPS he has gone slimmer during breaks and turned his grey hair black through cosmetic ink, runs even more harder between the wickets but finds it difficult to hit those most non-technical Helicopter shots and make runs since the last T-20 World cup against Srilanka.

(1stODI :18 runs on 13 balls, 2nd ODI:11 runs on 10 balls no boundary against AUS) He probably is the not "the finisher" he was known for. Team India couldn't hit a boundary in last 19 balls. No body knows what would be the right time for Dhoni to hang his boot but he doesn't really look like the OLD Dhoni on the field. Every single defeat against his name is bringing the curtains down on his career as a player. Take my word the next T20 world cup may be his last stint as a player if wind doesn't go in his favour! 

'Sir Jadeja' a constant headache :  

Whether Jadeja plays well or not Dhoni gets an excuse to rate him as the biggest all rounder to be included in team. I hardly remeber a match victory through Jaddu's clinical performance. Axar is warming the bench who could be more worthy than him. 

Ashwin is again his best mate who stood for him in both good and bad times so he is always in the team if MSD is captain. Score of players are waiting on the bench for their turn.

The team India needs a change either in attitude or in the captain. Team India was an enigma even in 90s and is still an enigma in 2016. 

This is not the good beginning for team India in New Year.