MS Dhoni: A Revolutionary Who Put Indian Team Back In Cricket’s Elite

Jan 5, 2017 at 7:12 PM

facebook iconlinkedin iconmail icontwitter iconWhatsApp iconTelegram icon
MS Dhoni: A Revolutionary Who Put Indian Team Back In Cricket’s Elite

India never had a better wicketkeeper-batsman and a captain ever before as good as MS Dhoni. So when the 35-year old decided to step down as the captain of the team in ODIs and T20Is on Wednesday, cricket fraternity was left in a shock.

The meteoric rise of MS Dhoni is phenomenal as he became one of the most reliant players in the batting line-up for India across all three formats. Having made his debut in 2004, Dhoni has found little hard to find his feet during the early days of his career. But continuous backing from senior players eventually paid off as he has shown the world what he is capable when he scored a swashbuckling 148 at Visakhapatnam in 2005.

The right-hander then slowly became the key player for India in both ODIs and T20Is as he along with Yuvraj Singh took the centre stage in the limited overs for next few years. National selector’s decision to send in a young squad for the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 after a devastating 50 Over World Cup ensured that the world could see the next best captain in the world.

MS Dhoni had steered India home in 2007 T20 World Cup and his captaincy won the plaudits for his utter calmness when he gave the ball to Joginder Sharma in the final over, a gamble which paid dividends in the end.

The sudden decision of Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid to step down as Test and ODI captains in 2008 ensured that Dhoni was made the full-time captain for India across all the competitions.

The first real test MS Dhoni faced was taking a rookie team to play against Australia in 2008 CB series in January and he has managed to win the tri-series which also featured Sri Lanka quite comfortably making it the first tri-series win in Australia by an Indian team.

The rise as a captain has been incredible considering the fact that the team was in a transition phase with a lot of young players tested out to build a squad for 2011 World Cup. The sheer knowledge of MS Dhoni has helped India be competitive even overseas as they played brilliantly against South Africa, West Indies till 2011 away from home.

He had ensured India become No.1 in Test Cricket for the very first time in 2009 after an incredible consistency shown by the team in the longest format of the game, hence by becoming the first ever Indian captain to achieve the feat.

However, the most iconic moment of his captaincy career will surely be the 2011 World Cup as had stabilised the team balance by trying out various combinations leading into the prestigious event. Dhoni had been pivotal in India’s success until the finals merely as a captain. The batsman in him came to the fore in the final when he stepped out to the crease ahead of inform Yuvraj Singh and steered India home in a difficult chase with a mesmerising 91* which also earned his the Man of the Match award.

Post-2011 had been the most difficult phase for Team India, as Yuvraj Singh was out with treatment for cancer while senior players Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman has decided to hang up their boots. The results were not coming India’s way overseas as they suffered embarrassing 4-0 losses in both England and Australia. But the lowest point in his captaincy came when England managed to outwit India 2-1 in the 2012 tour which has made the captain take some crucial decisions to revamp the squad.

MS Dhoni, however, against all the odds has won the ICC Champions Trophy in England against England in 2013. The success ensured Dhoni to become the first man ever to win all the three ICC trophies along with ICC Test Mace.

He has ensured that India are playing well at home in Tests before handing over captaincy duties to Virat Kohli in the midst of Down Under series in 2014. However, he has played his part in the limited-overs as he has helped India reach the semifinal in 2015 World Cup.

As the team underperformed over the past two years in the limited overs, MS Dhoni decided to hang up his boots as a captain for the better of the team.

With captaincy burden gone, cricket fraternity can expect a fearless stroke making Dhoni that the world has seen in the initial days of his career over the next few days. Needless to say, Dhoni has become a cornerstone in India’s long cricketing history and his achievements as a captain will be cherished for a fair number of decades to come.

Related Article
While MS Dhoni Was My Captain, My Eye Was On Virat Kohli: Ravi Shastri
While MS Dhoni Was My Captain, My Eye Was On Virat Kohli: Ravi Shastri

Feb 10, 2024, 3:34 PM


Difficult To Get Loyalty Unless…: MS Dhoni Opens Up On Leadership Qualities
Difficult To Get Loyalty Unless…: MS Dhoni Opens Up On Leadership Qualities

Feb 10, 2024, 11:14 AM


MS Dhoni’s New Bat Sticker Goes Viral As He Wins Hearts With His Gesture For Childhood Friend
MS Dhoni’s New Bat Sticker Goes Viral As He Wins Hearts With His Gesture For Childhood Friend

Feb 8, 2024, 12:35 PM


I Used To Go Back To My Room And Cry At 20-21 Years Of Age – Rishabh Pant Opens Up On His Comparison With Legendary MS Dhoni
I Used To Go Back To My Room And Cry At 20-21 Years Of Age – Rishabh Pant Opens Up On His Comparison With Legendary MS Dhoni

Feb 2, 2024, 5:18 PM


IND vs ENG: Don’t Worry About The Result, Focus On The Process – Dhruv Jurel Reveals The Crucial Advice Of MS Dhoni During The IPL
IND vs ENG: Don’t Worry About The Result, Focus On The Process – Dhruv Jurel Reveals The Crucial Advice Of MS Dhoni During The IPL

Feb 1, 2024, 11:18 AM


Ben Stokes Reveals Influence Of MS Dhoni And Stephen Fleming On His Partnership With Brendon McCullum
Ben Stokes Reveals Influence Of MS Dhoni And Stephen Fleming On His Partnership With Brendon McCullum

Jan 31, 2024, 12:20 PM


Desktop Banner
Mobile Banner