Dhoni’s numbers as a captain is available on every news site
and sports website now. So I will refrain from talking numbers here. But Dhoni
the captain deserves a far better farewell than the clouded circumstances under
which his exit has been viewed. India was an average cricketing team. It came
and went in major tourneys producing a spark here and there since 1983. Sachin
Tendulkar was regarded as a miracle to cricket but the sport being a team one
showed no mercy on a mediocre team with no fast bowlers or game changers. In
every sense a true cricketing fan witnessed more losses than wins during the
early ‘90s.
Then came Ganguly and finally India saw what it lacked in a
captain so far, a spine. He was a very impulsive captain known for fantastic
gut and even more fantastic temper. He was never far away from a retort, an
opinion or a smooth cover drive. For the first time then, India saw how
different a man who wants to make a difference needs to actually survive in a
country where the Board of cricket functions no differently than the
Electricity Board. He brought a brand of youth and intrepid that would go on to
revamp how cricket was viewed and played in India. Cricket has always been a
religion in India but for the first time we saw a team that could actually
predictably win.
Ganguly couldn’t be a captain forever. He had to move on and
the reins had to be given to someone else. Dravid came as the next choice who
never took to captaining. After a bit of grappling the baton was passed on to
Dhoni who was still young in a team where Sehwag, Yuvraj and Gambhir debuted
earlier than him. You add Harbhajan in this gang and the team had prodigies
that were handpicked and developed by Ganguly. Dhoni not only assumed
responsibility seamlessly he seemed to bring a rare set of qualities. His stoic
on the field persona, his quirky remarks during press conferences, his penchant
for finishing matches in style albeit in his own style and pace etc. In many
ways he was no different a captain than Ganguly. He was strong both physically
and mentally and determinedly maintained an emotional vacuum. Of all the things
he did the best was to carry on the upbeat Indian team into something of an
invincible team for a while.
Yes, this is where people pounce upon saying Dhoni has a poor
record overseas, his technique doesn’t suit test cricket, he lets the game
drag, blah blah. Which Indian captain has ever heard a stupendous overseas
record? But then we love our criticism and we live too much in the context of
now to even begin to remember the disappointment of so many years of India that
could barely chase 200 runs given 50 overs. And yes I also know, very well,
that Dhoni has just quit test cricket. He is still our whole and soul in the
limited overs format. The only point I am trying to emphasize is the treatment
of a player who has been stellar for Indian cricket. With the current
contingent India will still not be winning any overseas test series unless you
are playing in Sri Lanka. The exit of the captain was never the answer and we
shall see that point being proven in time.
Comments