Is This The End Of The Road For The Iceman, MS Dhoni?

I wish this day wouldn’t have arrived to pick up such an emotional topic to write on. For every Indian cricket fan, from last one year, this topic has been one of the bitterest pills to swallow and the current phase of Indian cricket since 2019 World Cup. From last 15 years we aren’t use to see anyone behind the stumps raising arms and setting the fields. However, currently Indian team even if they are doing decently well, lack that one important factor i.e. the MS Dhoni factor.

Whenever we hear, how many do India need? Our next question has always been, who is at the crease? The sense of calmness and joy to hear that Dhoni is still there was very special to everyone. His ability to soak in the pressure and calmly handle the situation of the game was something that cannot be taught by any coach. We all knew, no one could ever escape his lightning quick hands behind the stumps, even if it was a matter of few inches and split seconds. The responsibility that he shouldered starting from a mere hitter to being one of the finest cricketers in the world is just amazing. Ideally, he is one those gems for whom technique didn’t define him as a cricketer.

What has been the problem?

The wishes are compulsive and currently, the legendary career of MS Dhoni against our liking has slowed down.  The legacy and inevitable leadership of our Captain Cool was something we were so used to; that his absence from the list of contracted players this year is unimaginable. The fact that his ability against spin went down in the later part of the career has led to difficulty in rotating strike in the middle phase of the innings.  Additionally, the true talent of finishing games in the last over, that defined him throughout his career sadly turned out to be his greatest downfall. Dhoni, the guy with amazing hitting talent has occasionally not been able to finish games in the death overs from last 2 to 3 years in both international and IPL cricket.

I would never wish to see ending of a great career in such a bizarre manner (run-out in semifinal of World Cup 2019). The image of him sadly walking into the dressing room knowing, this the end for the team, is something no cricketer ever deserves. The fact that such an ending came in store for MS somehow seems very unfair to him. I know the comebacks are special and Dhoni might retort back sooner or later but unfortunately, these comebacks are also deceptive. As the career moves forward, the mind and body could slowly go out of sync pushing him in no man’s land. Finally, I hope that the somehow, he outlasts everyone and gets his deserving ending.

Share your opinions.

According to you, should Dhoni be included in the World T20 squad in Australia?