MS Dhoni: Champion of Champions

With not a single godfather for support, the magnificent man went on lead India to victory in all three formats of world cricket championships. Dhoni’s emergence is a unique tale in Indian cricket: non-influential cricketing State of Bihar; no previous experience of cricket leadership; no help from his own zone; and, most importantly, without a single godfather and media support.

 Despite every possible odd stacked against him, the man became a legendary figure all over the nation. How he managed to survive and went on to achieve phenomenal success is anybody’s guess. His popularity would put film stars and politicians to shame.

The start of the Dhoni story, however, has some extraordinary twists and turns.

In 2004 the BCCI began a system by which young talented cricketers around the country would be identified by talent scouts. Former Bengal first-class cricketers Prakash Poddar and I travelled to Jamshedpur to watch the east zone players in action in the one-day senior inter-state championship in January 2004.

At the end of the first day’s match, after returning from different grounds we met at the dining table. While discussing cricket, Prakashda said, “Raju, today I saw a man hitting the ball with awesome power. Never before have I seen anybody striking the ball so hard. But he is an average wicket-keeper. Since BCCI is looking around for wicket-keepers, I am not recommending his name.” Coming from a man of Poddar’s deep knowledge and wide experience, I was extremely keen to have a good look at the man’s batting potential.

Next morning, as I alighted from the taxi near the Keenan Stadium pavilion gate, I found a motor-cycle screech to a halt a few metres away. A well-built, muscular lad in his mid-20s with long hair, wearing a tight sleeve-less tee-shirt and denims parked his vehicle. Instantly two pariah dogs came towards him and he brought out some biscuits from his pocket to feed them. The speeding bike, the long flowing hair style, the bulging biceps all mitigated against the sensitive care that he took to show his affection for the road-side canines. One could make out those biscuits were brought for the dogs! I was bowled over by the young man’s sensitive nature.

When I asked the Bihar coach if he was the opener who hit the ball very hard, the coach replied, “Yes, this boy from Ranchi is an exceptionally hard hitter. He is playing first-class cricket for about 4 years. No selector has ever taken any notice of him. Even the India captain has seen him playing for Bihar. Why are you so keen to know about him?” By the end of the day, when he had scored just about 30 odd, I realized that I had seen an uncut diamond.

That evening I told Poddar that I had already recommended the name of MS Dhoni to BCCI. Poddar, after some hesitation, agreed that he also should. We decided to send our report to BCCI specially mentioning the exceptional power of the young man’s strokes. As it transpired, the responsible people at the BCCI took serious note of the report of the two talent scouts – after some frantic phone-calls from my end – and the career graph of a young talent from a neglected, non-influential corner of India took an upward curve.

Within months he was playing for India ‘A’ in East Africa. By the end of the very year – 2004 – MS Dhoni was playing for India and had done enough to cement his place. Other wicket-keepers, who hailed from favoured provinces and were being played in the national team by turns and on whims, were now vying for the reserve stumper’s post. A new star had risen on the horizon.

Dhoni’s career graph is a unique case in Indian cricket. Hailing from a family of modest financial background, he had little option but to accept whatever job came his way. The Indian Railways gave him a job based at Kharagpur. But, true to tradition, the Railway selectors decided that a man from the eastern region would not be good enough for the all-India Railways cricket team!

Since Dhoni was based at Kharagpur, which happens to be in West Bengal, he was qualified to represent Bengal in national championships. Where were the Bengal selectors – all former test and first-class cricketers – at the time? Their job was to select the best of talent residing in Bengal. Were they doing their job honestly? I have very strong reservations. Where were the national selectors, especially the east zone representative, who were supposed to act without bias and worse? Were they under some external corrupt influence? Nor did the India captain, hailing from the same zone in Ranji Trophy, had thought of him.

Dhoni, a man of few words, kept his ears and eyes open in the India dressing room to observe what Tendulkar and Dravid were doing to prepare themselves for the battles ahead. He picked up the finer points through observing the best in the business. Off the field, his cool and composed personality was the just right ingredient required for a person craving to learn the ways of the world.

Reams have been devoted to his exceptional abilities. I shall not repeat. But I would like to relate that never before have we had a leader in India – Polly Umrigar always excepted – as exemplary as the man from Ranchi. He began by leading India to the inaugural T20 world cup trophy with all the top names dropping out of the team for one reason or other! A young set of keen lads helped the relaxed captain to bring off one victory after another.

Before leading India, Dhoni had no experience of captaincy. No grooming at all. It seemed he did not need any. Players instinctively followed him for his sterling qualities of character. A distinct sign of a born, natural leader of men.

The success he achieved was really achieved by his strength of character and his wisdom. No other Indian captain – past or present – has been able to match his statistical highlights nor his popularity all over the country. In fact, has any other captain from any country been able to be the world champion in all the three formats at the same time?

Despite such magnificent achievements, the cool and composed man still remains as modest and accessible as he was nearly two decades back when he was making his debut in first-class cricket for Bihar. Far from stooping to gamesmanship, he was the epitome of the ‘spirit of cricket’ concept. His classic calling back of Ian Bell in England, after being given ‘out’ by the umpire, will forever remain a great lesson in sportsmanship. He even allowed a re-toss after having won the first toss in a world cup final. None but a genuine saint can act like he did.

Never took advantage of his position. He could have promoted players of his choice or his State but never did. He respected the selectors and allowed them to do their job. Never got involved with any publicity stunts. Never bothered to get into conflicts and controversies. Detested sledging and avoided verbal duels. Never resorted to any kind of one-upmanship. Never bothered to make the headlines with heroines. Never had cricket-cronies around him. He was and still remains a champion in the truest sense of the word. Kept the media at a distance, thankfully.

His persona was and still remains such that people consider him to be the leader, whether he is leading the team or not. He gave up his Test position in style and in isolation. Did not create any hullaballoo about it. How many men, dear reader, you know who has given up the India captaincy voluntarily without any pressure?

After being out of the captaincy throne, no other India captain has earned the respect and affection of his peers as Dhoni has. This shows the man’s actual worth. Even when not in the any seat of power his considerable aura pervades every nook and corner of Indian cricket. People from all walks of life revere the man for the qualities he has.

To have been at the top of Indian cricket without an influential patron is almost unheard of in Indian cricket. Almost every other long-serving India captain has had the blessings of men in power. Dhoni never had anyone to help him nor did he want anybody around. He was and still remains his own man. He retired from every level of cricket in his own signature style: strictly personal decision without any publicity campaigns.

No fiction writer would ever have conceived the rise and rise of Dhoni to fame and fortune. He was nowhere on the radar in early 2004 before two talent spotters from Bengal – without fear or favour – strongly recommended his name to BCCI.

By the end of the year the name of MS Dhoni was an obvious choice for the national team heading for Bangladesh. A man, who was ignored by all the concerned people for four years, suddenly became the cynosure of all eyes within four months!

Today, however, some former selectors and their cronies are bending backwards to prove that they were the ‘first’ to discover MS Dhoni!!!

Que…sera…sera