Under-Fire MS Dhoni Responds To Recent Criticism In Style

Updated - 12 Nov 2017, 02:01 PM

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With criticism being aimed at him from all corners for his knock in the second T20 International against New Zealand in Rajkot, former India skipper Mahendra Singh has come up with a brilliant reply.

The World Cup-winning skipper is facing the heat for the knock that more or less derailed India’s chase when the Men in Blue were chasing a mammoth 197. Having walked into bat when the team was four down for just 67 runs in the tenth over and needed more than 10 runs per over, Dhoni failed to play according to the situation as he took his time initially. And by the time, he played some big shots the match was already sealed in the Kiwis’ favour.

In the first 20 balls that he faced, he had managed only 17 runs, and although he eventually scored 49 off 37, his knock could not provide the chase with the much-needed impetus, as India went on to lose the game by 40 runs.

After the knock, several former players including VVS Laxman and Ajit Agarkar questioned Dhoni’s place in the T20 team and opined that the team should look beyond the 36-year old in the shortest format of the game.

But despite facing the flak, Dhoni said that he was not too affected by the harsh criticism and insisted that people were entitled to their opinions.

“Everybody has views in life and it should be respected,” said the former Indian skipper during the launch of the MS Dhoni Cricket Academy in Dubai on Saturday (November 11).

“I have always felt that sports is one way of learning about life. How you deal with disappointments, how you are supposed to come in front of people when you have either you have won or lost a game. At the same time, how you stand up to criticism, and how you have an open mind about learning and improving yourself,” he added.

The most decorated skipper in the history of Indian cricket further spoke on what still motivates him to play for India.

“Representing the country is the best motivation for me,” said Dhoni. “We play cricket for only a span of time. We play for one year to 15 years, some play for 20 years. But in a lifespan, say you live for 70 years, 10-15 years is nothing.

“The only thing I can say is that I am representing my country. My biggest motivation is being part of the Indian cricket team. I have always believed that the process is more important than the result. I have never thought about the results. I have always believed in what is the right thing to do at that moment,” he added. “I have always been involved in the process, and have never burdened myself with what if the result does not go my way. At the end of the day when the match gets over, if I look into the mirror and say to myself that I have tried my best, then I am satisfied.”