The other side of Dhoni that we dont know

Dhoni was seen freely mixing with the special children who participated in a cultural show organised by the Mukul Madhav foundation. The 34-year-old distributed gifts to the smiling kids, as a distinguished gathering of donors applauded.

These kids, dressed colorfully, happily posed for pictures with their icon and Dhoni smiled back. Fortunately for him, these kids were not interested in grilling him about India' batting order, or how India let South Africa run up one of the highest ODI totals ever.

Industrialist Prakash Chhabria, who heads the Mukul Madhav foundation, told the audience that the funds raised will be used to provide medical and educational assistance to the weaker sections of the society through various activities undertaken by the trust.

In this age, when fans are quick to elevate cricketers to status of national heroes, and even quicker to tear them down, we often forget that these individuals have a life outside the 22 yards.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has always had this penchant for things larger than life and cricket. Be it training with the Army's Elite Para Brigade or owning a racing team in Supersport World Championship – MSD has knows where to break away from this national obsession of a sport.

However, Dhoni's fixtation with the Indian Army is not restricted to just parachuting. Earlier last month, Dhoni donated 20 lacs to the Indian Army through 'Cricket for Heroes’, a T20 fundraiser cup held at KIA Oval, raised 20,000 pounds for the Mahendra Singh Dhoni charitable trust. The entire amount was donated to the Indian Army and this fund will be used in the treatment of injured army-men.

Amidst the clamor around why Stuart Binny should not be selected by Dhoni and question his loyalty to some particular players in the squad, we should commend the allegiance he showed towards an old friend of his earlier this year.

In July 2015, when Jharkhand Ranji cricketer Santosh Lal was suddenly diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, MS Dhoni made all the necessary arrangements for his treatment. Santosh Lal was an old friend of Mahi, one who taught him the, now famous, helicopter shot. Lamentably, the 29-year-old succumbed to the disease and passed away couple of days later, but Dhoni did come back for his friend in his time of need.

The wicket-keeper batsman has always given back to t­he society, be it adopting a homeless puppy from a Ranchi NGO, donating Rs 3 crore to Anandvan, the organisation set up by Baba Amte to rehabilitate leprosy patients or spearheading campaign against rabies, with his wife Sakshi Dhoni, in Ranchi.

But all this will soon be drowned out when India walk out to the field, in search of a face-saving victory under the ever- sweeping eyes of the media and the pundits, and we will soon be deliberating– should Kohli replace Dhoni as the captain of the ODI team?