The roar turned to a crescendo as the man stepped out. The decibel level in the stadium touched a peak, even raising the potential of harming the hearing power of those in attendance! This was the scene at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow the other day, where the Lucknow Giants and Chennai Super Kings had their IPL match. And the reason for the ovation was Mahendra Singh Dhoni, perhaps Indian cricket’s most recognised iconic figure at the moment. The swath of yellow, the official colour of CSK in the stadium, representing the huge number of fans, a reflection of the support the team and in particular Dhoni commanded, had to be seen to be believed. All it must be said was because of this incredibly popular man, Dhoni. His cricketing prowess is now part of Indian cricketing lore to the extent that his presence alone triggers an electric effect amongst his followers. And the man has not disappointed. That he has remained unbeaten in the ongoing edition of the IPL added to his stature as a mind-blowing finisher in the sport.
M.S. Dhoni can be ‘Mayhem’ Singh Dhoni, as the digital board wittily displayed in Wankhede Stadium the other day, when the legendary wicketkeeper batter went berserk in the match against the Mumbai Indians with this last-minute explosive hitting. Three sixes and a brace featured his 4-ball stay at the crease, but enough to whet the appetite of the vast gathering that had for long been waiting for that moment. Dhoni had just four balls to face when he trotted in to finish off the last over of the inning. The 20 runs proved quite a vital contribution considering the close win that CSK could carve out there to beat the host in their own backyard. In Lucknow, too, a similar setting emerged when Dhoni walked in with two overs to go. The nine balls he faced saw him make 28 runs, but the highlight was not just the fours and sixes but the one six off Yash Thakur, which went 101 m!
For someone who is soon to turn 42, this kind of power display, not to speak of agility and enthusiasm, Dhoni deserves to be applauded. True, there would be an urge to see him come earlier in the batting line-up and smash the ball around, but all said and done, this Jharkhand great is not growing any younger. As CSK Coach Stephen Fleming revealed, Dhoni had not fully recovered from a knee injury, so he had to be careful. So play briefly, and that is the kind of inspiration he injects into the side. The team, too, was only keen to see the impact he provides. Dhoni never fails there. Only the rest of the members of the team need to pick more than a leaf from his sensational abilities with the willow.
But then, that is Dhoni. It would seem he was born to play this great game, and the struggle he faced to come up and get recognised only strengthened his resolve. The rest, as they say, is history. In fact, at the Wankhede stadium, Dhoni, with his innings, smartly brought back memories of his heroic innings right in this arena that brought India the 2011 World Cup triumph. The final over and the grand six to dash Sri Lanka’s quest are unforgettable moments in Indian cricket. Against the Mumbai Indians, he virtually brought those moments alive, leaving the rival bowler, none other than the captain, Hardik Pandya, a confused lot. Hardik was one more bowler that way to suffer. How many other bowlers would have suffered in a similar way can only be imagined, for Dhoni’s record is 65 sixes coming just in the last over of the innings in the IPL! At the crease, he believed in the adage that the ball is there to be hit, and hit he did most tellingly!
It's truly been an amazing journey for this humble cricketer from Ranchi. A lover of the sport, keen to master it, Dhoni had set out with a clear objective in his formative years. And just see the progress he made! From humble beginnings, a ticket collector, starting with Dhoni, rose to become one of the most loved ones in Indian cricket. Much has been written about his prowess and grit that helped him progress, but what stands out will be his success in becoming a calm and collected person in the midst of highs and lows. Many would recall the final moments of that nerve-wracking finish to the IPL final last year, which saw CSK and Gujarat Titans face-to-face. CSK needed 10 runs, and just two balls remained. No, Dhoni was not in the middle, but the focus was on Ravindra Jadeja, who had to do a Dhoni-act to grab the impossible. Jadeja did what Dhoni expected of him; he hit a six and four, and CSK had won the title. From pressure, it was a release of emotions, but where every other person was lost in ecstasy, Dhoni remained calm and, after the win sank in, rushed to Jadeja to lift him up. Needless to say, the photographers had a merry time!
For the Chennai fans in particular, things have reached a stage when none could imagine CSK without Dhoni, whom they affectionately call “thala” (leader). For sure, this great man cannot be a permanent fixture in the middle, but his inspiration is bound to benefit the new generation of players with aspirations. For the moment, however, his exploits with the bat in particular will continue to thrill fans all over. And why not?
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Brilliance of Dhoni, still the talking point!
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24.04.2024
The roar turned to a crescendo as the man stepped out. The decibel level in the stadium touched a peak, even raising the potential of harming the hearing power of those in attendance! This was the scene at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow the other day, where the Lucknow Giants and Chennai Super Kings had their IPL match. And the reason for the ovation was Mahendra Singh Dhoni, perhaps Indian cricket’s most recognised iconic figure at the moment. The swath of yellow, the official colour of CSK in the stadium, representing the huge number of fans, a reflection of the support the team and in particular Dhoni commanded, had to be seen to be believed. All it must be said was because of this incredibly popular man, Dhoni. His cricketing prowess is now part of Indian cricketing lore to the extent that his presence alone triggers an electric effect amongst his followers. And the man has not disappointed. That he has remained unbeaten in the ongoing edition of the IPL added to his stature as a mind-blowing finisher in the sport.
M.S. Dhoni can be ‘Mayhem’ Singh Dhoni, as the digital board wittily displayed in Wankhede Stadium the other day, when the legendary wicketkeeper batter went berserk in the match against the Mumbai Indians with this last-minute explosive hitting. Three sixes and a brace featured his 4-ball stay at the crease, but enough to whet the appetite of the........
© Mathrubhumi English
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