Dhoni: The Finisher

 By Seema Singh

Date: 15^th August 2020

Time: 1929 hours

I am bad with remembering events. But, this one will be difficult to forget. Just like you never forget your birthday. Because, that for you is the most important day of the year. Right?

Going forward, 15^th August, will be one such day. Of course, you cannot miss the importance of the day. It marks, India’s Independence from the British rule. However, it now is also going to be associated with the day the “Coolest Captain” of the Indian Cricket Team decided to hang up his boots.  

This blog is not aimed at listing down the many achievements of Mahendra Singh Dhoni (MSD). I have read quite a few over the last few days. And a Dhoni fan or no, I can bet there is one thing that people definitely know about Captain Cool- His landmark achievements.

Dhoni, for me, is an emotion and this post is just about those. The emotions that ran high every time he was on field and even off it.  

“When I die, the last thing I want to see is the SIX that Dhoni hit in the 2011 World Cup Final.” – Sunil Gavaskar

It is an emotion of having a young boy come from a small state of Jharkhand (My hometown too!) and make a mark. I am sure many would relate to, “Oh! You from Dhoni’s state?” I can proudly say that he did put the state on the global map.

“Dhoni Hai,” led us to believe that we will win, whatever the situation in the game. He could change the equation of the game, not just with his batting, but his gloves too. Oh! And how can we forget the decisions he took during those tensed moments in a game. The combination of these three makes what Dhoni truly is. A Master of the Game.

“If Dhoni plays till the end, one thing is for sure…He will make his team Win.” – Harsha Bhogle

Remember, him giving the last over to bowler Joginder Sharma in the 2007 T20 World Cup finals? Pakistan needed just 13 runs to win and Harbhajan Singh had an over to go. Questions if any were put to rest when India lifted the T20 World Cup Trophy. His decision to promote himself up in the batting order during the 2011 World Cup, also put many in doubt. But, as they say, the rest is history.  

Very rarely you come across people who leave a major mark in your life. Dhoni is one such. How else would you explain the Instagram post from Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Peter Handscomb, who trolled himself while talking about Dhoni.

Courtesy: Peter Handscomb's Instagram post. 

“You vs the man she told you not to worry about.” Peter Handscomb.

We have all jumped in complete admiration, every time he took off the bails in nano-seconds. We have laughed every time he passed a witty comment from behind the stumps. We have also cried when he didn’t perform up to our expectations. For someone, who many say is a man of ‘Limited emotions’, has successfully managed to instill deep emotions in each cricket fan in all these years with his game.

While he has retired from all formats of International cricket, the respite for many of us is the upcoming IPL season. It is here that we will still be able to see the helicopter shot, the blink of an eye stumping, witty comments from behind the stumps and some path-breaking decisions as he leads Chennai Super Kings.

What we will however not be able to see going forward, is him in ‘Blue’ wearing the #7 jersey. But, as he has said in his retirement video: ‘Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar Hoon. Pal do Pal Meri Kahani Hai.’ There is a reason, he is called the ‘Greatest Finisher.’  

 

                                                                 Courtesy: Cricket Daily Youtube Channel