The legend surrounding MS Dhoni continues to grow with every passing day. There is a clear reason, why the Indian think tank comprising of the selectors, Ravi Shastri, and skipper Virat Kohli have undying faith the abilities of Dhoni.
Despite being nowhere near his destructive old self, where he marauded the bowlers for fun, and as a habit, just the presence of Dhoni in the camp is a sight just too reassuring for the Men in Blue.
The five-match series in Sri Lanka was an instance of that, as the former skipper was in the middle of things when the tide looked like turning against India. Be it was the second ODI where he rescued India out of a likely loss along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, or his finish with Manish Pandey in the fourth game in Colombo, Dhoni made it evident in Sri Lanka, that he is not done.
Rewind to a few days ago and you have India down and out at 87-5. Against a rampaging Australian bowling attack, India’s downfall seems imminent and its just a matter of time before the innings gets rolled over. In walks the ever flamboyant Hardik Pandya and joins his first skipper of international cricket. Within the next 90 minutes, the entire picture got changed, as the two are involved in a game-changing 118 runs stand. Among those 118 though, 83 belonged to Pandya, who got dismissed by Adam Zampa, after his 66 ball vigil demolishes Australia.
It is exactly where Dhoni’s role came as a new step. If he had been his old self, rather than giving the new man the license to attack from the start, Dhoni himself would have looked to up the ante. But right now, knowing his hitting skills aren’t anywhere close to what they were a few years ago, the senior man plays a calm, subtle and reassuring partner.
It is in so many ways, that the calmness and solidity of Dhoni, which allowed Pandya to be the risk taker and enjoy his natural game. The result – Pandya’s aggression propels India to a more than defendable total.
Once Pandya was dismissed though, Dhoni did the same with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, as he allowed the new comer to play his strokes, while he held up an end and himself played the odd big shot. In the last couple of overs though, Dhoni went berserk against James Faulkner especially, and his six dancing down the track was a sign of that.
The message here has been clear for people to see. Dhoni at present and for the near future, won’t be the sheer destructor of the opposition or the marauding machine. But instead, the 36-year-old will deploy his tactics more towards being the anchor and rock of the middle-order, who can safeguard an end, allowing the other members to unleash their natural game right from the very beginning.
This new role of Dhoni, was glorified by Harsha Bhogle recently, in his article for Cricbuzz where he divulged details about the former’s new role. Below, is a small extract of what Bhogle felt about Dhoni’s new role in the team:
Dhoni is now the pillar of the side rather than the destroyer of the opposition. His old avatar will occasionally resurface but we must get used to seeing Dhoni as a circuit-breaker in case there is a collapse like in Pallekele when Akila Dhananjaya was proving difficult to read, or indeed in Chennai where India were 87/5. He will block, he will nudge, he will run hard, he will ensure that the more volatile younger players at the other end see in him an island of calm.
I don’t know what lies ahead; I don’t think anyone does, especially since Dhoni has been the finest all-situations limited-overs batsman for India. Maybe this is the role he has chosen to play, for now, aware that either side of him India is likely to play Jadhav and Pandya, two fine strikers but still relatively inexperienced. Maybe he is now the vessel that will guide the ship into the harbour, maybe the instructor sitting front left while someone else drives the car.
Maybe, as always, he knows exactly what he can do and therefore what he can’t. And is doing what he can as well as ever. Dhoni 2.0 may be less thrilling than the original but might be just as valuable in a different set-up.