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Every time Dhoni walks out to bat, be
it a Test match, a one-dayer, a T20 International or an IPL game, commentary
will sweet talk you through the virtues of Dhoni-the-ultimate-finisher, Dhoni-the-big-six-hitter,
Dhoni-the...
Well of course, this is true in
one-dayers and even more so in the IPL, especially with LS in tow. And just as
Dhoni never quite made the switch through formats, neither did some of the
mesmerised mouthpieces.
“When he hits it, it stays hit”
Dhoni’s T20 Average (includes IPL and
Champions League games for CSK) is nearly 38, his strike rate about 137.
“MS is not the next Gilchrist. He’s the
first MS Dhoni” – Gilchrist
Dhoni’s T20 International Average is
nearly 34 (includes 20 not outs from 45 innings) but his strike rate is 116.
“If 15 runs are needed off the last 6
balls, pressure is on the bowler and not on MS Dhoni” – Ian Bishop
Perhaps Bishop is referring to the last
over in the CSK vs KXIP 2010 IPL Semis. Dhoni scored 4, 2, 6, 6 and sealed the
game. The bowler was Irfan Pathan. Dhoni made 54(29) at a strike rate of 186.
Irfan Pathan doesn’t bowl to Dhoni in T20 internationals.
*****
Dhoni has played 194 T20 games but only
50 T20 Internationals from 2007-2014. He is yet to score a half century, his
highest is 48*(43). India lost this game by 31 runs to Australia.
In 24 matches that India has won, his
batting average climbs to nearly 42, strike rate to 136. In 21 that India’s
lost, his strike rate drops to 98.
How many remember that Dhoni was clean
bowled by Umar Gul in the 2007 World T20 Finals for 6 off 9 balls in the 15th
over?
And how many will ever forget Dhoni
lifting the T20 Cup beating Pakistan?
Averages and strike rates have never
defined Dhoni. Dhoni is much greater than the sum of his numerical parts.
Much like Afridi is for Pakistan, MSD is top draw in a limited overs game. While
India might find it comparatively easy to come to terms with his Test
retirement, losing him in the other formats will be way too much for India’s
cricket industry to stomach.
*****
Virat Kohli has played 28 T20
Internationals – he averages 46, strikes at 132, and has 9 50s. Unlike Dhoni
his T20I numbers are much better than his IPL numbers. I often joke, “Kohli ne RCB ka nahin, India ka theka liya
hai”. (Kohli gives a damn for India, not for RCB)
After the World Cup, I see only one man
captain India across all three formats - will Dhoni play under Kohli?
Or as the numbers’ suggest, Dhoni earns
his place in the T20I team, first as skipper, talisman, superstar,
last-over-believer, and then as a batsman.
Take away the captaincy and you take
away the aura – almost like taking off his gloves, leaving him naked at deep
point. What else? A few overs of seam up from him?
“I am learning the ropes of captaincy
from MS Dhoni.”
– DJ Bravo, CSK
Dhoni made a duck in his first
one-dayer. That was followed by 12 and 7* all against Bangladesh in 2004; how
many remember that?
And how many remember that 148 against
Pakistan that followed? Dhoni in, early at three, after three failures at
seven. Ganguly was captain then. And his hair was long, wild Conan-like.
*****
Is it time for Dhoni to embrace cricket
purely as a sportsman again? He’ll find life is much simpler without positions like
captain and Vice President. Who knows there could be a sequel to the Helicopter
– The Mars Orbiter.
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