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A Feature by Syed Ahsan Ali on May 11, 2007

When Dhoni arrived on the scene; he appeared to be a swashbuckler, a swaggering soul with ferocious batting skills. This was said about him that he is more of a hitter who will be sized up by the thinking sides in the world and then he will suffer at the hands of some out of the box cricket. Time proved them wrong. He has so far played against all the big teams and that dream of catching his frailties is still a dream. He moved on. He started to amaze everyone with the kind of control and sensibility with which he bats. Almost like not giving anything to the opposition to bank on. Then another threat came his way which tarnished many before and many many more to come due to its fatal killing gimmicks. Yes, the poise of fame and glamour.

Dhoni is one who turns head with his exuberance and passion for the game. His long locks, sweet smile and sparkle in the eyes made him darling in few games and in even fewer heroics. People mobbed him when he visited one shopping mall. A Police officer was transferred to a remote area for fining the Jharkand Boy for having tinted glasses in his car. MS Dhoni started featuring in fashion shows and in advertisements of cosmetics. That was enough to distract him from his real reason for fame. But I don’t know what the man is made of? He is shrugging off any trivialities or frivolities with utmost ease and moves on. This is rare. Really rare. Otherwise youngsters in Asian countries are killed most by glamour hawk or fame leviathan. We have many examples in that regard. Afridi is one who takes the accolades of kids and girls more seriously than of experts and veteran cricketers. Yuvraj is next in the line and many more fall in the same category.

But Dhoni has something about him. He can become brutal whenever he wants to be one. But he likes to do it like a surgeon than a butcher which is always definitely a better option. You have to get him out otherwise forget it. Now he earns a reputation that if he stays India invariably wins. Especially if India is in for a run chase. In World Cup, it was not over when Sachin was gone, not even when Dravid left the scene but when Dhoni got bamboozled by number one spinner in the world, Murali. Look at his record when he chases scores and look at the win ratio of his country.

India in the last couple of years have shown tilting trend towards chasing runs which may be due to the brilliance of Yuvi, Dravid and especially Dhoni. Look at the numbers of the wicket-keeping maestro when he bats second, he stretches his average to monstrous heights in pressure conditions with enormous responsibility on his 70 matches old shoulders.

When India bats second, Dhoni’s average:


                  M   Runs   HS   Avg  100 50

CAREER    70   2078  183* 46.17  2  13
2ND INN   68   1076  183* 59.77  1   7


We can safely say that when Dhoni performs India touches down emphatically. It speaks volumes for the man’s abilities. He has been doing this even when India has some disturbing problems in opening slot but regardless of that, he does what he can do than thinking about what others can do to facilitate him. Excellent commitment and common sense cricket.

When India wins, Dhoni’s average:

        M   Runs   HS   Avg   100 50

WINS   36   821   183* 164.20  1   6

So consequently, if he fails India fails which is not a very great thing to say when you have star-studded batting line-up. But matter of the fact is that Dhoni has been helping them in retaining their superstar status. Because victory hides shortcomings usually.

When India lose, Dhoni’s average

        M   Runs   HS   Avg   100 50

LOSSES 31   730    96  24.33   0   4


Dhoni has been a real superstar not because he can hit sixes, not because he is a favorite of respected ladies and enthusiastic kids, not because he looks good in TV promos, but because he does it in the middle. And that what really counts in the end.

More of Syed Ahsan Ali : Not for the sake of revenge! :: It wasn't fair, Gilly! :: Crucial flops of the CWC 2007! :: Looking Ahead : For the sake of romanticism :: Saluting the mighty trio :: Two darlings of Indian cricket! :: Shane Warne : The complete bowler of our time :: The Ashes is done and dusted! :: Five most feared batsmen of One Day game :: Brilliant.Charismatic.Lara

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