STARS OF THE GAME

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

In the late 90s and during Greg Chappell’s coaching era, when heads were tumbling through the Indian team’s turmoil, it seems all that MS Dhoni did was chalked out a plan on how things would change for better. When granted the opportunity to lead, he showed himself ready and became the solution to most of India's problems, enough to finally fulfill expectations of a long-suffering crowd of supporters.

An Adam Gilchrist-inspired Mahendra Singh Dhoni was drafted in 2004 to solve India's wicketkeeper-batsman crisis following the failure of the Dravid experiment. His start was anything but legendary - getting out for a duck. It was his fifth outing when at home against Pakistan in 2005, that a blistering 148 which set up India for a win, made everyone take notice. It came after India had lost opener Tendulkar early and it was a performance which both calmed nerves and steered the ship - two qualities which would be Dhoni's hallmark in years to come. A mammoth 183 to chase a high Lankan total later in the year reiterated his value. By the end of 2005, Dhoni donned the all-whites to earn a maiden Test cap against Sri Lanka, holding both ODI and Test spots ever since. After India's failure in the 2007 World Cup, Rahul Dravid resigned as captain. In the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 that followed, Dhoni was chosen to lead a young Indian side. Under his guidance, the team quickly turned disappointment to joy by lifting the coveted trophy, to the surprise of both fans and detractors. His ability to excel in leadership was quickly recognized and within a year, he was appointed Indian skipper in all forms of the game.

Under Dhoni's captaincy, India posted successful Test series victories home and away against England (2008), New Zealand (2009) and Sri Lanka (2009). Throughout his first five years as a Test player, India had lost only two away series, a record which helped them top the Test rankings. Under his leadership, a renewed spirit emerged among players with youngsters Raina, Yuvraj, Sehwag and Gambhir showcasing fearless determination that had been missing since the 80s.

The biggest accomplishment of his career came in 2011 when he powered Team India to a remarkable World Cup victory with his extraordinary leadership skills that proved his worth as a successful captain. It was after a long gap that India won the Cup, thanks to a bunch of hardworking and enthusiastic cricketers led by a young and exceptionally astute skipper. He played a captain’s innings in the final against Sri Lanka, where his brilliant knock of 91 runs sealed the most memorable victory for his team and his country. He may have won the Man of the Match award in that ultimate encounter, but for a cricket-crazy nation, MS Dhoni will forever be the man who led from the front and fulfilled a billion dreams of seeing the Cup return after 28 long years.

Fast Facts

  MS Dhoni was the ICC ODI Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009.

    He led India to victory in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007 and ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011.

    From the time Dhoni took over as the Test captain (2008), India had not lost a single Test series until August 2011, when England whitewashed India 4-0.

     

    He is one of only 3 Indian skippers to notch above 10 wins in Tests.

    Dhoni became the first wicket-keeper to have ever led India in Tests.

    He's the third most successful (highest run getter) wicket-keeper batsman in ODIs, behind Adam Gilchrist and Kumar Sangakkara.

    Dhoni represented his district and club for badminton and football and was a goalkeeper.

    His football coach sent him to play cricket for a local cricket club where he impressed with the gloves.

    Dhoni became the first wicket-keeper captain in international cricket to bag 100 catches in both Tests and ODIs.

    He is also holds the record for the most dismissals by a wicket-keeper captain in Tests and ODIs.

Stats     

       Matches   Innings  Runs     NO      Avg.      SR       100's      50's       HS

Test           66         104      3495    12        37.98    60.11      5          24       148

ODI         196        175      6497    48        51.15    88.52      7          43       183*

T20           28          27         480      8        25.26   109.84     0          0           46

IPL           59          51        1425    15       39.58   138.61      0          8          70*

CLT20      10           9          137      4        27.4     108.73      0          0         31*

 

Career Span:

Test:

    2005-2012

ODI:

    2004-2011

T20:

    2006-2011

IPL:

    2008-2011

CLT20:

    2010-2011

Test

    Debut:

        India Vs Sri Lanka at MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk), Chennai (Madras) - Dec 02, 2005

    Last played:

        India Vs Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Sydney - Jan 03, 2012

ODI

    Debut:

        India Vs Bangladesh at Chittagong Stadium (MA Aziz Stadium), Chittagong - Dec 23, 2004

    Last played:

        India Vs England at Eden Gardens, Kolkata - Oct 25, 2011

T20

    Debut:

        India Vs South Africa at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg - Dec 01, 2006

    Last played:

        India Vs England at Eden Gardens, Kolkata - Oct 29, 2011

IPL

    Debut:

        Chennai Super Kings Vs Kings XI Punjab at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali - Chandigarh - Apr 19, 2008

    Last played:

        Chennai Super Kings Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai - May 28, 2011

CLT20

    Debut:

        Chennai Super Kings Vs Central Stags at Kingsmead, Durban - Sep 11, 2010

    Last played:

        Chennai Super Kings Vs New South Wales at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai - Oct 04, 2011

Whats happening to dhoni now??

Currently he is leading India in Border-Gavaskar Tophy against Australia in Australia. But last day every one in the press conference area was taken by surprise when Team India skipper Mahinder Singh Dhoni said that he will retire from one format of the game by the end of 2013 and most probably Test cricket. Dhoni said, if he has to play the 2015 World Cup cricket he has to retire from one format of the game.

"If I want to see the 2015 World Cup, I'll have to retire from one of the formats," Dhoni said. "It's too early right now. I am not that old. I am just 30. There is still time. We will see by 2013, and by 2013, I mean the end of 2013," Dhoni said after the practice session in Perth.

The Indian skipper said that he doesn't want to delay his decision beyond next year and take a hard look at defending his World Cup. "That's something I need to see," he said. "I will take it as the time comes. What I really meant was by 2013 I would have to see where I stand when it comes to my body, whether I will be able to survive until the 2015 World Cup. Of course form is a factor.

"Also, what I need to see is, if I play till 2014 and all of a sudden say I can't survive till the World Cup, and then all of a sudden you have a new wicketkeeper coming in who has not played more than 30 international games. So by end of 2013 I need to decide if I am fit enough to proceed in one of the formats. It's not personal interest. What I want is an individual who, if he is taking my place, should have played at least 60 to 100 ODIs before he goes into the World Cup. It's what my personal thinking is. We will see accordingly. Lots of time before that."

  

Possible reasons for Dhoni's revelation

Known for being practical and forthright, Dhoni must have analysed his Test record off late. In the 66 Tests he has played so far, his record has been gradually moving southwards. While the tour of England was a disaster as a player, in Australia he has additionally come under criticism for his captaincy as well. Contrast this with his stellar performance in limited over games – both as a player and skipper – and one can see reason in Dhoni’s contention.

Dhoni is the reigning World Cup champion and IPL champion. His recent performance in Tests is sullying that image. Off the field, as a champion ODI and T20 player, Dhoni is among the biggest brands in Indian advertising. With his falling performance in Tests and captaincy under criticism, the situation is neither helping the team nor his personal equity.

 Dhoni’s timing of this announcement, a day before the crucial Perth 3rd Test, is bit of a mystery. But sources in the BCCI indicated that the board and the team management were in the loop. Board officials say that it is already working on various options to available as replacement for Dhoni as captain to begin with. Virender Sehwag's name has been suggested by some as the future Test captain.

 If Dhoni pulls out of Tests all together, the Board will have to look for a wicket keeper as well. Top BCCI officials are not happy with Indian Team's performance in England and Australia so far. Team India will not play any difficult away series till the end of 2013 until India tours South Africa. Dhoni’s announcement today could also mean he may opt out of the tough Test series against South Africa.

Virender Sehwag won't be a long term solution for sure as he is ageing as well and the BCCI will have to look for younger player who would not only be able to lead the side in Tests but should be interested also in doing the job on a long term basis. With the IPL’s commitment for the top Indian players getting bigger every year and the World Cup looming in two years, to find a young player interested in Tests would be a tough job for the BCCI.

 Indian team’s stability in the recent years can also be attributed to the fact that Dhoni has alone led the side in all three formats of the game – Tests, ODIs and T20.  Next year that could change and like in England, Indian cricket also could see different captains in different formats of the game.