Things have changed and changed only for the
good of Indian Cricket. There was a time, when
Sachin Tendulkar was the main hero who could
save India with support cast from the Azhars,
Jadejas, Dravids, Gangulys, Kumbles and
others. But let’s get off from such
stereotyped thoughts now and welcome the young
crop of talented players who know how to win
matches more than anything else. That list is
being populated; it started off with Harbhajan
Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Irfan
Pathan. After having seen the Nairobi Tri
Series involving Kenya, India ‘A’ and Pakistan
‘A’, I predict a name “Mahendra Singh Dhoni”
to that list. That name “ Mahendra Singh Dhoni”
may not figure into the Indian team very soon
with Dinesh Karthik just coming in for Parthiv
and Dinesh Karthik, I am sure would be given a
fair trial.
The first time I ever saw this name was in the
newspapers, when I came across this statement
in a newspaper “M.S.Dhoni the wicket keeper
batsman from Bihar was also considered, but we
chose for Dinesh Karthik”. That was the news
article about the Indian team selection for
the Holland Tri Series, The Natwest Challenge
and the subsequent Champions Trophy. I am
always curious to know more about the “new
names” that are rocking at the domestic level.
All I could know about Dhoni was that he was
playing Ranji Trophy for Bihar. Bihar? Yes
that’s right, isn’t it the first time that we
are hearing about a cricketer from Bihar? (atleast
for me). Well hats off to this 23-year-old
Dhoni for coming into reckoning playing in the
Plate division of the Ranji Trophy. And his
achievements are even more commendable as he
comes from Laloo or Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Bihar
Cricket Association or Cricket Association of
Bihar.
Till date of writing this article, M.S.Dhoni
has played 27 1st class games and
has scored over 1400 runs with a century and
10 half centuries at a decent average of 30
plus. And mind you this guy isn’t a batsman
alone, he’s also a live wire behind the stumps
with 65 catches and 13 stumpings to his name.
Dhoni is not a Parthiv Patel in batting who
just excels in the longer version of the game.
He is a dashing stroke maker who already has
hit 4-100s and 9-50s in just 33 limited overs
first class games. He has a beautiful batting
average of over 55. I was taken aback by
Dhoni’s batting talent when he played in the
Nairobi Tri Series. This wicket keeper was
batting at no.3 for India A and his batting
along with Gautam Gambhir’s (who played for
India in the Dhaka tri series, just after the
World Cup) was a delight and a breath of fresh
air.
Mahendra Dhoni is a well-built person and his
batting style is somewhat different from what
you see often. He tends to reach out and drive
the ball by extending his wrists. He has the
uncanny knack of hitting big sixes and
especially the ones over extra covers off both
fast bowlers and spinners. Now tell me isn’t
someone who can hit such kind of sixes a
special talent or not? Dhoni can also hit the
slog sweep for sixes, but that isn’t as
special or unique as his ability to hit the
lofted cover drives. This lad packs a punch in
his shots, but he is no Laxman or a Ganguly
when it comes to running between the wickets.
He is a quick sprinter between the wickets and
always looks at the possibility of running an
extra run. Whether it is keeping or batting,
this youngster is upto the task and is
certainly a bright prospect. Dinesh Karthik
should most definitely be performing at his
very best; otherwise M.S.Dhoni is catching up
and is catching up very quickly. A healthy
competition for the wicket keeper slot finally
and that’s only good news for Indian Cricket.
I am sure M.S.Dhoni would get his turn to play
for India and if he can produce atleast 60% of
what he had played against Pakistan A and
Kenya, then my word is that this guy would be
a resounding success in the near future.
