Mahendra Singh Dhoni and nine years of scripting a legacy

“Dhoni finishes the game off in style. A magnificent strike into the crowd.  India lift the World Cup after 28 years.”

Ravi Shastri’s Adam’s apple came right out of his throat, his vocal chords literally soaking up with emotions after MS Dhoni launched Nuwan Kulasekara for a six over the night sky of the Wankhede Stadium. The entire nation started celebrating the victory that they had been dreaming of for the last 28 years- to win the ICC Cricket World Cup. The Indian skipper had led from the front when it mattered the most to give billions of Indians unparalleled joy.  

That was the greatest innings from one of the finest leaders World Cricket has ever seen. Not just because it was a World Cup final, that innings was special for a nation that had endured the bitter experience of losing major finals time and again. It was the innings that gave Sachin Tendulkar the chance to lay his hands on that coveted Trophy after playing six consecutive World Cups.

Yesterday, an era ended. After nine long and fruitful years for Indian cricket. But the timing could not have been better? Kohli is all set to take up the mantle and now will get sufficient time to prepare his team to bring home the World Cup glory in 2019.  Dhoni has not resigned when the team needs him the most, but he is resigning at a time when a young and an able captain is hungry and waiting. That is where his greatness lies.

His contributions to Indian cricket as a skipper were beyond numbers and bare statistics. There was a lot to it than what met the common fan's eyes. Just like he created a bubble of his own and wrapped his team in it before any big assignment. He seldom came out of that bubble when people questioned his ability, which he had proven wrong, time and again- both as a captain and as a batsman. 

Dhoni is a man of few words and more actions. He is shy off the field and sly on the field.  He believed in processes than results. He was uncanny with his decisions. He was instinctive with his approach. 

His calm and cool demeanor along with his positive approach had also rubbed on his teammates and may also go on to inspire the generations to come. Sample this- A young man was about to bowl the over of his life and having a relaxed smile on his face. India could have been knocked out from the ICC World T20 in front of home crowd by losing to Bangladesh. But, Hardik Pandya decided to take it with a smile. Once, Joginder Sharma did the same with a smile on his face before bowling the over of his life in 2007 ICC T20 World Cup. He went on to etch his name in the annals of Indian cricketing folklore. 

Dhoni foresees future because he lives in the present and uses his past as the lessons learnt. Dhoni wins the battle on the field because he rehearses it endless times in his mind. He is like a universal solvent, allowing others to dissolve their ideas to form a solution.

Come on India. Let’s sing more praises for a person who has given his heart and soul for the Indian cricket. And now when he is calling it quits, he has made sure that Indian cricket is in better shape than what it was when he took over the reins back in 2007. That is the parameter of success.

His legacy will keep motivating all of us!