August 2020
After one full year of speculation in which there were as many views , if and when and how he will return, as there are people on the planet, the once captain cool, MS Dhoni, calmly announced his retirement on his Instagram page with a nostalgic montage.
Despite his famed fitness, at over 39 years and not having played any cricket for a full year and with no clear plan of how he will fit in Indian cricket’s vision for the future, it would have been tough for him to find a place in the first XI.
There’s lots to celebrate Dhoni as a limited overs cricketer. Not since the Little Master had anyone created such a buzz as Dhoni with his swashbuckling start. The long hair locks added to the enigma that was building up for a 22 year young man who had already battled the odds in life and through the cricketing system. And as luck would have it, the young man joined a team of stalwarts who could help keep feet on ground and a leader who was as fearless and visionary as they come.
The marauding 148 against Pakistan at Vizag was just a teaser to the ability. 183 not out against Sri Lanka was the full announcement that here was a special talent. The sizzling finishes against Pakistan in the 2007-08 series had gotten even the Pakistan PM excited at that time. By then the advent of T20 meant Dhoni was well on his way to a legend.
The T20 World Cup win was a lot of team effort including smart fearless captaincy. The world had seen the first glimpses of perhaps the greatest tactical leader in white ball cricket ever. The Tri series win Down Under fashioned by the Little Master’s 2 incredible innings established the Captain Cool template.
By the time the 2011 World Cup came around to India, Dhoni was by far the world’s best finisher, far outclassing the likes of Miandad, Bevan, Hussey or Klusener. There’s no greater testimony than the 91 not out in the final in that cauldron of Wankhede. Not since that fluent masterclass of Aravinda in 1996 had such an uncanny chase been orchestrated.
The rise of Kohli, Sharma, Dhawan meant Dhoni wasnt on SOS as often as the world would have loved. But there was always the occasional special- 45 not out in Port of Spain in 2013, the 50 in Adelaide in 2012, the 139 in Mohali and even the 20s and 30s of the last overs were thrilling.
The success and fame was mindboggling and comparable only to the great Tendulkar. The Champions Trophy in 2013, the string of series wins at home, No.1 world ranking in Tests and IPL success for Chennai. Till his final ODI, MSD was the quintessential finisher and there was always hope until he was at the crease. That is saying something about how he matured as a limited overs cricketer.
With a heady mix of achievements – 350 ODIs, 10000 runs, 2 World Cups and numberous firsts as a captain, MSD has given Indian fans lots and lots to celebrate. So the question of a final swansong series or game doesn’t matter. And he knows his occasion. Just as cricket comes back to life post Covid, he’s decided yellow will be his one focus thereby avoiding splintering selection opinions for the ODI wicketkeeper spot.
As that memorable line from Shastri from 2011 goes, Dhoni finishes things off in style. Thank you MSD!
THE CRICKET ROUND UP 