The 4 phases of MS Dhoni's career over the years

M.S. Dhoni has portrayed so many roles over the years

In the years 2003 and 2004, the English Cricket Board was pondering new ways to popularise the sport, with Twenty-20 cricket gathering steam. Though the 5-day long Test matches were still the favourite of die-hard followers and experts, at least some fans craved for a change which could bring much more energy and vigour to the gentleman’s game.

During this time, a precociously talented lad from Ranchi got a chance to represent India in the limited-overs format. The search for a quality wicket-keeping batsman had been going on for quite a while, and MS Dhoni was chosen on the basis of his impressive goalkeeping skills.

However, the debut turned out to be a forgettable experience for him, as the unfortunate chap got run-out in the very first delivery he faced. He had every reason to be upset as it was indeed one of the worst ways to start an international career. Keeping his head down, with an emotionless face, he went back to the pavilion.

But failure didn’t stand a chance against the mental fortitude of the young gun, as he was too good a warrior to succumb to a nervous breakdown. In fact, it was just the calm before the storm, a prologue to something really great.

Dhoni – ‘The Obliterator’

Dhoni – ‘The Obliterator’

After some ordinary performances, Dhoni expressed himself in his 5th ODI, scoring a devastating 148 in just 123 deliveries against arch rivals Pakistan. It was a different experience altogether for the Indian cricket team fans who were used to Sachin’s elegance and Dravid’s patience. The opposition and the crowd were left spellbound watching the obliteration.

But the real ‘Dhoni’ got unleashed when he made an unbeaten 183 in 145 balls while chasing a daunting target of 299 set by Sri Lanka. The Lankan bowlers had absolutely no answer to Dhoni’s brute power as he clobbered them all around the park without any mercy. His 183 still remains the highest 2nd innings score in ODIs.

A long haired freak with a weird batting technique and astonishing hand-eye co-ordination – that was what the old Mahendra Singh Dhoni was all about. His square-cuts were fierce and ruthless. The ball disappeared into the crowd every single time it was pitched up.

Even yorkers were thrashed over the ropes with a wild swing of the willow. In fact, his bat-speed was so immense that in order to prevent the bat from going up to the sky along with the ball, he rotated his blade in his follow-through, thus ensuring that the surplus force was used as torque. This unconventional stroke was later named the ‘helicopter shot’, and Dhoni became its master.

However, experts weren’t satisfied with Dhoni’s unorthodox technique. They laughed at him when he drove the ball with little feet movement. They said his street-smart cricket wouldn’t last long as he would struggle in the Test arena. But Dhoni simply had other plans.

Dhoni – ‘The Captain Cool’

Dhoni with the 2007 T20 World Cup

The first Test of the India vs England series of 2007 witnessed a different Dhoni whose gritty knock of 76 from 159 balls in the 2nd innings saved India from the jaws of an odds-on Test match defeat.

Despite such an awkward technique, Dhoni battled against the likes of James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom and emerged as the winner, thus silencing his critics.

His supple wrists and dogged determination were more than enough to compensate for his technical frailties. He developed his own way of playing each and every delivery and began to reap success in all formats.

Later in the same year, Dhoni got the chance to lead a young squad to the inaugural T20 World Cup. Without any hesitation, he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. After defeating Pakistan in an exhilarating final, Dhoni and his men lifted the first ever T20 World Cup.

Dhoni’s inexplicable decision of giving the inexperienced Joginder Sharma the last over of the final went through serious contemplation, some criticising it as a lucky gamble. But Dhoni’s ability to remain calm under pressure was lauded by millions and eventually it marked the beginning of a new era.

After the 2007 World Cup debacle, India was in a dire need of someone who could fill the captain’s shoes. Sachin Tendulkar was the first name that popped up, considering his enormous experience in international cricket.

However, Sachin thought Dhoni would be a better choice to lead the Men in Blue. He saw a shrewd mind sleeping inside the beast and he asked Dhoni to be the skipper of the Indian ODI side.

Dhoni cut his long hair, something which he loved the most, as he knew that there wouldn’t be much time for vogue and swagger for the Indian skipper.

After receiving the reins of Test captaincy from Kumble, Dhoni became the full-time captain of India in all 3 formats. For the first time ever he took India to the Number 1 spot in Tests and reigned there for almost 2 years.

With the inception of the Indian Premier League in 2008, the Chennai franchise purchased the Indian skipper for a whopping 7.5 crore, the highest price for a player at that time. Dhoni’s schedule became more hectic with this new role of being the captain of the Chennai Super Kings, a team which he led to countless victories in the IPL.

In his leadership style, Dhoni was far different from the former skipper Ganguly. We could hardly see Dhoni celebrating success by thumping his fists in the air, nor could we see a Dhoni screaming at his players in tense situations.

He never indulged in any sort of verbal spats with the opposition, even if they provoked him. He remained a calm, cool and composed personality all the time.

But he was aggressive in his own way. His face resembled a calm sea while his brain was a beehive of activity. No matter whatever the condition, in the end he would get the job done quietly and neatly. He was a silent assassin.

The CB series victory in Australia, away series triumphs in New Zealand and Sri Lanka, 2010 Asia Cup and finally the 2011 World Cup triumph. He didn’t stop there. A 4-0 clean sweep against the mighty Aussies in 2013 at home, followed by becoming two-time IPL champions…captaincy records began to tumble before his sharp cricket acumen.

Dhoni’s captaincy had always been studded with enigmatic moves. He plays according to his instincts, and one has to acknowledge the success he garnered through his unconventional style. Dhoni shocked even the greats by taking the bold decision of giving the diffident Ishant Sharma the 17th over of the 2013 Champions trophy final.

However, the move turned out to be a pivotal moment in the match and eventually he became the first captain in the history of the game to win all three ICC trophies. From 2009 to 2014, he got undisputedly selected as the captain of either the ICC Test team of the year or the ODI team of the year.

But the burden of captaincy didn’t affect Dhoni’s batting at all, as he still averages more than 50 at a healthy strike rate close to 90 in the ODI format. The fact that he has amassed 8832 runs from 270 matches and is also the fifth fastest to the 8,000 run milestone are too large to be overlooked. He is also the only player who has fetched the ‘ICC ODI player of the year award’ two consecutive times.

Dhoni – ‘The Finisher’

World Cup winning six

Scoring a much needed 72* from just 46 balls against Pakistan at Lahore, while chasing an intimidating target of 289, Dhoni showed what he was capable of, way back in 2006. In the same series, Dhoni’s master class of 77* from 56 balls also came under immense pressure, but it took some more time for the world to acknowledge the finisher in the most successful Indian captain.

With more power comes more responsibility. There was a time when the Indian team kept losing the plot, throwing wickets in the middle under pressure, failing to capitalise on the start. Dhoni decided to put an end to this issue as he sacrificed his favourite number 4 position and began to bat lower down the order. He curbed his natural attacking instincts and started playing more sensibly.

Soon he became a colossal figure in the middle, acting like a wall that prevented the opposition from getting into India’s tail-enders. In the slog overs, he was as destructive as always, scoring boundaries at will without a tinge of pressure. Bowlers trembled to bowl to Dhoni at death, and he made use of this mental weakness of the opposition to his favour.

Dhoni, arguably the greatest finisher of modern times, was born.

Wicket-keeping is a high-pressure job. Captaining and lower-order batting is even more pressure. And what if someone has to do all these three things in a World Cup final? That could be the most extreme pressure situation a player could possibly imagine.

But great leaders always thrive under pressure. Dhoni’s 91* from 79 balls to steer India to victory against Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup final, chasing an improbable target of 275, is testimony of that. With a towering six over long-on, he finished the game in style, enlivening a billion hopes of the cricket fanatic nation.

How could one forget the exhilarating climax of the tri-series final against Sri Lanka in West Indies, when Dhoni smashed 16 runs in the last over bowled by Eranga under enormous pressure?

The nail-biting finish of 2010 IPL match against Kings XI Punjab, when Dhoni sealed the semi-final spot for CSK by demolishing Irfan Pathan in the final over of the match, the CB series match against Australia in 2012, when Clint McKay looked like a kid in front of the Indian skipper, and many more thrilling last over finishes – he has been just incredible when it comes to dealing with pressure.

Dhoni, ‘finishing the game with a six’ is now a cliched phrase, such was his success rate in the final overs of the game. Even the best players appear nervous under pressure situations, but Dhoni’s nonchalance and dexterity are still an enigma.

Maybe he too experiences the pressure (that’s what his grey hair suggests), but the fact is that he just absorbs and overrides it with his tremendous self-confidence.

Dhoni – ‘The Anchor’

Dhoni is quite good at anchoring the innings

Dhoni is probably in his final phase now. In fact, he always loved to anchor the innings, batting at Number 4, but for the sake of a perfect team combination he had to give up that wish and had to do the dirty work. Over the years he has done that quite well; in fact, he was the best in the business when it came to finishing. However, it seems like now he needs a change.

His grey hair won’t be black again. Years of mental and physical hard work have taken a big toll on his body. The old Dhoni, who could easily find the fence at will regardless of the bowler or condition, is no more. Helicopter shots from Dhoni’s blade have become a rare sight.

Yes, we have lost that old long haired crank who had been a nightmare for bowlers all around the world.

But time has not yet come to write him off. His 85* against Zimbabwe in the World Cup 2015, when India were staggering at 92-4, proves he is still well in the game. His 92* from 86 balls in the second match of the just concluded series against South Africa reminded us of his gritty knock of 113* against Pakistan in 2012 which resurrected India from a position of 29-5.

He might have some troubles with his hard hitting skills, but he is still the master of calculated chases. His sprinting between the wickets, stealing swift singles and doubles, and lightning quick stumpings have no match. Dhoni the anchor, is still well alive. All he needs is a comfortable position in the batting order.

He bid adieu to the longer format of the game earlier this year, to concentrate more on ODIs and T20Is. Despite all his technical flaws, he retired from Test cricket with an average of 38, which is in fact nothing short of amazing for a wicket-keeper. Captaining in three formats while donning the keeper’s gloves is no easy job.

Dhoni is not as stylish as Sachin. Not as perfect as Dravid. Nor as simple as Sehwag. He is just a brutal hitter, a silent guardian, and an inspirational leader.

From a railway ticket collector to one of the most brilliant leaders the world has ever seen, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a ‘man of transformation’. Over the years, he has gone through various phases, ups and downs, and has portrayed many roles with a great deal of success.

But no matter what phase he is in, Dhoni is someone who we can proudly point to and say, ‘He is my role model’.

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Edited by Staff Editor