MS Dhoni to play fearlessly after putting team before himself

Ajit Vijaykumar 22:34 04/01/2017
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  • Dhoni has played more internationals as keeper-captain than anyone else.

    You never know what is going on in the mind of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Be it his field placing or selection choices, the wicket-keeper batsman has done things his way and since it worked brilliantly, Dhoni was always going to take a call on his future in his own inimitable fashion.

    It’s an important year for the Indian team. They start with a three-match ODI and T20 series against England. The main target, as far as limited overs cricket is concerned, is the Champions Trophy in England, which the Indians will be defending.

    The larger goal, however, is getting the team ready for the 2019 World Cup which will also be staged in England. Keeping that in mind, Dhoni probably thought now is the time to hand over the team to the player who in all likelihood will be the Indian captain across formats for a long time – Virat Kohli.

    The biggest takeaway from Dhoni’s shock decision is he cares more about the team than himself.

    Here is a player who is by far the most successful Indian captain in history, the undisputed master of limited overs cricket, an indispensable part of the team and enjoys the complete support of the limited overs side. He has won the World T20, the 50-over World Cup and the Champions Trophy as captain and took India to the semi-final of last year’s World T20.

    Under him, India won every single major title out there and he could have led the limited overs team as long as he wanted (even though there was a case of him doing that after he gave up the Test captaincy in 2014) because not only is he super fit, there is simply no one to take his position in the team, either as a batsman or a keeper.

    That Dhoni has decided to be available for the ODI and T20 sides only as a player shows the wicketkeeper
    realises the team will be better served if it starts to galvanise under a new leadership also if Dhoni himself plays without the burden of captaincy.

    Dhoni’s legacy as a leader and player is immense and he is greatly responsible for instilling a winning habit in the Indian team. Every player that makes it to the Indian side now knows he is part of a world beating outfit, and not just a competitive one. Before Dhoni, India had one world title in their trophy cabinet, two if you include the shared 2002 Champions Trophy.

    With this move, Dhoni moves into the final phase of his illustrious career where he can once again be the player the world fell in love with – a fearless batsman. The burden of captaincy had brought out the defensive player in Dhoni, especially in Tests, and it started to reflect in his performances.

    Out went those audacious shots and daring strokeplay. Dhoni still won matches on his own but he did have to let go of some of that fearless approach which made him famous. With the Indian team in excellent health across all formats, Dhoni has now given the next generation an opportunity to take over while allowing himself a chance to play purely as a match winner.

    Dhoni is 35, is still one of the fittest players in the team and the best wicketkeeper batsman in the country. He can easily play for two-three more years. So expect a wiser Dhoni to get back to doing what he knows best – pulling out those ‘helicopter’ shots and making bowlers look a bit foolish.

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