Five Things Gentleman's Game Would Have Missed Had MS Dhoni Never Played Int'l Cricket

Before writing this piece, I would like to thank the man for whom I am writing this particular narrative today. He is none other than Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is arguably the greatest street-smart captains the world has ever witnessed. From being a ticket collector in Kharagpur in 2002 to becoming the World Cup-winning skipper in 2007, Dhoni’s story has been nothing short of a supreme fairytale.

The 36-year-old has been quite spectacular and despite his technical flaws, he has mad it up with his sheer brilliance.

Making his debut way back in 2004 against Bangladesh, Dhoni didn’t have the best of starts to his international career. He was dismissed for a duck in his opening match against the Tigers. But he had the belief in him and then played some exceptional innings to cement his place in the team.

From there on, we saw a rise of a new leader who went on to achieve every possible thing. He still remains the only captain in the world to lead his team to win in all major ICC tournaments.

Now, without wasting any time let us have a look at five things cricket would have missed had Dhoni not played international cricket

A batsman with a totally unorthodox technique:

If you look at Dhoni from the start he was never someone who used to follow the textbook. His game was not modelled for leather-ball cricket. However, he made sure that his technical deficiencies didn’t affect him during his whole career.

With a sheer exceptional record for India in One-day Internationals, Dhoni will be in the top five for best batsman India ever had in ODI cricket.

And at times he is not very pleasing to the eyes. However, he does about his job in an unfazed manner which has separated him from his peers.

Helicopter Shot:

World Cricket would have missed a special shot had Dhoni not played international cricket. He first unleashed the famous helicopter shot during a bilateral series against Windies back in 2006-07. The commentators back then had no idea as for how to describe the shot.

Over the years, Dhoni has literally made the shot his own and has gone on to execute it with disdain. It was from a friend named Santosh that Dhoni learned the art of playing a helicopter shot. His friend who unfortunately died a few years back had pioneered the shot in tennis-ball cricket.

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Coolest Cricketer on the planet:

Ever since taking up the leadership role of the Indian cricket team. Dhoni has always looked a calm and composed figure. He is never over the moon and knows the limits of his celebrations too.

During his tenure, India was also a disciplined unit. However, he also played aggressive cricket but he just showed it in a different way.

The way he has handled pressure as a skipper is something exemplary. Keeping the death overs for Ashwin and Jadeja during the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final and promoting himself up the order during the 2011 World Cup remains two of his best decisions many admire.

Greatest finisher of all time:

There is hardly any doubt about the fact that Dhoni is the greatest finisher as far as limited-overs cricket is concerned.

Time and again, Dhoni has proved his credentials and have won India matches single-handedly. One such knock came against Sri Lanka during the Celkon Cup Final in 2013. 15 were required of the final over with a wicket left.

Dhoni smashed fast bowler Shaminda Eranga for a couple of sixes and a four to seal the deal for India. This was just an example as he has done it so many times.

Australian Michael Bevan comes close in this regard. However, given his brand value, Dhoni wins the race here.

The most successful skipper in the world:

Had Dhoni not graced the game, there wouldn’t have been a single skipper in the world who has led his nation to victories in all three major ICC tournaments.

It was a young Dhoni with long-hair who led India to a World Twenty20 triumph in the inaugural edition way back in 2007 against arch-rivals Pakistan.

Dhoni then played a captain’s knock in the final of the 2011 World Cup to become the second skipper in the 50-over format to lift the World Cup after legendary Kapil Dev. It was a couple of years later in England and Wales that India won the Champions Trophy title.

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