Mahendra Singh Dhoni , the name itself attracts sheer respect and continue to inspire millions. The all time successful Indian captain has carved a niche for himself. He is a global brand today that separates him from contemporary sportsman in the country.
Not many would have predicted MS Dhoni’s rise to the highest level, let alone him leading India. But, that is where the beauty lies — his story is nothing short of a fairy tale. Dhoni has broken stereotypes through his career and has truly become an inspiration for Indians, who aspire to make it big.
From being a ticket collector for the Railways in Kharagpur , he scaled all obstacles to sit at the pinnacle of success . Dhoni’s success story is perfect proof of the famous quote by Nido Qubien “Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go.”
To come from a small cricket centre and going on to lead the country successfully speaks volumes of the man’s determination, dedication and discipline. It also speaks of the hard work he has put in, nurturing his dream of playing for India.
Dhoni always had the knack of seizing at opportunities when it mattered. Two most distinct moments early on his career set his course towards greatness. In 2004, he got an opportunity in the India A team’s tour to South Africa as Dinesh Karthik was called-up to the senior-side in England. Seizing the opportunity with both hands, he smashed two centuries in the one-day tri-series against Pakistan A and Kenya. His second opportunity came during the ODI series against Pakistan. After failing in his first four ODIs, he thumped his arrival in the international arena with a belligerent 148 run innings against the arch rivals at Vishakhapatnam. This is the sign of a true champion! When big, life-changing opportunities come by, champions invariably overcome doubts and put in their best.
Another striking acumen in Dhoni has been his willingness to take risks. Who can forget that moment when he handed Joginder Sharma the ball to defend 13 runs in the last over in the final of the inaugural World Twenty 20 . With the match heading towards a close finale, Dhoni opted to hand the penultimate over to his best bowler, RP Singh. Although Pakistan nearly took away the game in the last over, Dhoni’s gamble paid off! Fortune favors the brave! To the outsider, it may seem a gamble, but it was calculated for using his best bowler in the penultimate over gave him a great chance of building pressure for the finale.
Dhoni always had this uncanny knack of rising to the occasion. Winning the ICC World Cup in 2011 against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede stadium has to be the defining point of Dhoni’s career. Firstly, he was up for the big occasion. Secondly, he showcased his risk-taking ability. And finally, his innings personified his evolution as a batsman. With India chasing 275 to win the World Cup in front of the Mumbai crowd, Dhoni promoted himself to No 5 with India at 114 for three. This despite the fact that he had struggled through the World Cup and Yuvraj Singh was the man in form. On the big day, he decided to take matters in his own hands and rise to the challenge. Dhoni’s 91 not out off 79 deliveries took India to an unforgettable World Cup triumph on home soil. His knock had the aura of dependability and calm, followed by the aggressive explosion at the end which sealed the deal. On your biggest day, you have to bring all your attributes together to culminate into a recipe for success! Be it the sports field or your business — that is the formula.
Dhoni’s calm demeanor has been the secret of his success as he never looked rattled when things are not going in his favor .He has often been praised for keeping a cool head while leading a team , shouldering the burden of a billion expectations.
In recent times, Dhoni hasn’t seemed himself though as he is going through a tough phase. Since 2007, he has been one of the busiest players on the international circuit and has juggled three major responsibilities — captaincy, batting and wicket keeping.
Dhoni comes across as someone who will never run away from the adversities. I remember during the 2011 tour of England, even after the battering in the test series he could spot a smile on his face. Three years later when he led India to Champions Trophy win at Edgbaston , he spotted the same smile.
Perhaps the years of rigor has brought in some natural fatigue. But, who knows? He may have yet another trick up his sleeve for he has shown that he is a true champion. After all he is man with the Midas touch.