Now when emotions have settled down. It’s time to write the farewell post to the captain.
My generation has grown up between “Sachin hai na” to “Keep calm and trust Dhoni”. Having said that, we all knew, it was coming. Isn’t it ? Since last few years, his ability to finish the game or reflexes behind the stumps were in question.
Dhoni is/was an amazing batsman, a great wicket keeper and a marvellous captain but above all, a great influencer. His actions have taught me more than everyone else combined. Let’s revisit his journey and my learnings from it.
Yes, You can make it big :- In the first decade of this millennium , it was hell difficult to come from a small town and make it big in Cricket. Kaif tried but failed and so many others. Dhoni was a great success story for us.
He has come from a small town of Ranchi and ruled the international arena like a King. His journey has given much needed confidence to small town folks. It has also taught us that it doesn’t matter from where you start , what matters is where you finish.
Out of box thinking :- One may like or hate Dhoni but everyone would agree to this point. His ability to think, out of box has contributed alot in his success.
You need MS Dhoni to give last overs of world cup semi final/ final to Joginder Sharma or use leg slip fielder or make a bowler out of Kedar Jadav.
Stay in the game to make it big :- Dhoni showed the world a different approach to finish the game. He proved us many times that
- If you stay longer in the game, you have a higher probability of achieving any target.
- If you break problem in smaller parts, you have better chance of solving it.
- Your strengths are your strengths only when you use them at the right time.
You don’t always need to lead the team :- Dhoni was an amazing captain. He knew when to lead the team and when not to. He never believed in telling his players how to practice or how to build the game but whenever any one asked , he never shied away from sharing his opinion.
He has provided ample of space to the team members to grow and think on their own but led the team fearlessly when it mattered.
Failures are your’s but success belongs to team :- Probably, this one is my favourite. He has set a trend of collecting trophy , passing it to the team and just be another guy in celebration.
Whenever India lost a game, he was the one who faced press otherwise the top performer took the centre stage.
Invest in your folks and invest for long term :- This one has earned him a-lot of criticism but I have loved it. You cannot invest on everyone but when you invest on someone, invest for long term.
Ravinder Jadeja is a great example. Only Dhoni has backed him at beginning of his career and now he is one of the best allrounder of the world. Even King Kohli has credited a part of his success to MS.
You should know when to say, “I quit” :- Saying “I quit” is the most easy and difficult thing to do. When you perform below average, it becomes easy and when you are comfortable, it becomes really difficult. Indian cricket has not seen a smoother exit of a legend than MS.
Historically, It was always the forced one with legends.. Dhoni understood his game well and called it a day appropriately. No press conference, no farewell match, thats typical Dhoni for you.
Somewhere between those two run-outs (Dhoni got run out in his first and last innings of ODI), Dhoni had an amazing career. I am sad that I won’t be able to see him in blue but excited, thinking about his future endeavours. We as a country need leaders at many level and who can be better than MS to carry the burden.