Mahendra Singh Dhoni Chooses To Fed Away From Tests

You Just Cant Predict Him

There came a magician who had taken Indian cricket to the greatest heights and made this cricket crazy nation believed that India can conquer any thing and then suddenly he choose to retire from the purest form of Cricket in which he had made team number one for the very first time, without giving any reason. The retirement reminds me of the statement which Mahendra Singh Dhoni made in one of the press conference when he was asked about 2015 world cup, in response to which he replied that he even is not sure whether he will be alive and playing cricket or not. He also once stated that he could leave playing tests in coming years, so this might be the date which Dhoni had selected from lucky draw.Well I wont appreciate the timing of decision looking at the all important world cup, as this decision would surly be blamed for if India will not perform as per the expectations and its consequences would be even worse. But lets not forget the fact that he had always been valiant in taking unorthodox decision and proven himself right, hope this goes in his favor as well. 

The plot was already set when for the first time in his career Mahendra Singh Dhoni was rested because of an injury rather then simply stating it as a rest by the officials. Another thing is Mahendra Singh Dhoni just choose to fed away for tests and even did not himself announced his retirement, it was the tweet by BCCI which made it viral and left all the questions unanswered of cricket fans .  Whether it was his own decision or not, will soon be cleared from India’s performance in the upcoming ODI series and world cup, but the decision once again shows that how competitive cricket has become now a days. The modern day cricket requires continues performance .

As Dhoni had already given signs that he will quit tests in future, the reason for it was clear that his style donot actually fits for test cricket.He was made T20 captain first and then ODI and later forcefully after the retirement of Kumble the test captain. But he actually could not perform to his potential in this format because this format had never suited his batting and captaincy style and he already knew it from starting. Dhoni keep calm and then explode and his style of taking retirement was not an exception.   

Another interesting fact got associated with Dhoni's retirement is that -Ganguly , Kumble , Dravid and Dhoni all four test captains retired while playing against Australia ,which actually gives a logical conclusion and a buzzing title for the Australia tour as 'The tour where legends announce retirement'.

Lets accept the fact now and thank Mahendra Singh Dhoni for his contribution to the test cricket and keep our faith in the phrase that every thing happens for a good reason and hope for the best in the coming time. 

Mahendra Singh Dhoni - Great Gambler Of Cricket

Finally came a day when one of the greatest finishers in world could not finish the  game in his teams favor with his taking the game to the last ball and all the audience on their seats with heart in their mouth .Like all the memorable wins which he had given to India with his trademark approach, this lost will also be remembered ,as he rarely fails !!

Sunday September 7 2014, Edgbaston ,was the day which will be remembered by many ,especially by the Dhoni's critics who donot agree with Mahendra Singh Dhoni's gambling tactics in cricket .Like usual he took the game to the last ball for the powerful fireworks but eventually fell short of a hit ,which was the difference between the results which two teams got.The reason why people say gambling is bad because once you start getting results in your favor you become so much addicted to it that you almost forget the probability of losing and  start believing that no matter what you will get the result in your favor .

Cricket is all about challenging each other .Every ball by a bowler is a challenge to the batsmen and if batsmen decides to dominate the bowler and play on his own will than it’s the biggest challenge a bowler can ever get. Mahendra Singh Dhoni loves to challenge the bowlers each times he comes to bat and hence loves to test his powerful hitting each time he comes to bat. Yesterday Dhoni once again the man with strong will power has shown how much faith he had in himself and how much he enjoy the game and the challenges.

Even after losing the game at Edgbaston against England Dhoni took the blame and responded by saying that it was his responsibility to finish the game as he is better known for finishing the game .Well, he always takes this responsibility of finishing the game take any match which you can remember be it world cup final or countless IPl innings. It is really admirable that team India’s captain known his role both as a captain and as a player. He takes decisions for team , he keeps for team ,he finishes for team overall he took the whole responsibility of winning the game for India.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s tactics are so full proof that maximum time the only possible result team India could get is a win. His tactics are perfect for shorter formats like ODI and T20 and the heights which team India achieved under his captaincy need not to be recited all the times.Lets forget the loss and hope for many more wins. Long live the wins!!

   

When World No.1 And World No.2 Battled

He surly is the destiny’s child, impossible actually is nothing for him, that’s why with each passing match he is taking team India to new heights. With the kind of success he has achieved, the man with Midas touch is surly going to be considered as one of the greatest leader India has ever got. The man in talking is once again the caption of team India –Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

When a team scores 359 runs they are considered to be winner by themselves and everyone, because chances of chasing such a huge target in ODI’s are generally theoretical , with lots of  if’s . But this Indian team believes in making things happen. I always wonder what  Mahendra Singh Dhoni actually says to his team members that they always perform for him  and for the first time I had heard from the man himself."I just told them in the innings break that we have done this in past when we had made  414 runs and Sri Lanka had made some 412-413 runs  .Just go their and don’t look at the scoreboard and try to play the shots in right shape”. Easily said than done !! But these things count when a team actually achieve it.

16 October 2013 was a historic day in world cricket when world no.1 and world no.2 team battled to produce a historic event for the ODI history. Australia scored 359/5 thanks to the awful  bowling performance by Indians and in reply India scored 362/1 thanks to the awe-inspiring batting performance of Indians. India chased down the target in 43.3 overs which turned out to be the second highest chase in the history of game and could have been the highest ever, had Australia scored 435. Only on very few occasions such scores had been chased by any team and unfortunately Australia was always at the receiving end in the top four ones.

It was raining fours and sixes at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur last night. If score was rare then their has to be some rare feast achieved by the teams and players. This match was not an exception  ,their was a fastest hundred scored by any Indian involved in it along with the 176 runs opening partnership against Australia by India. Top five Australian batsmen scored 50 and equaled the previous record on the pitch which surly proved to be a graveyard for bowlers with only 6 wicket fell in the match and 721 runs were scored. These achievement of last night surly proves that history is yet to be written and records are made to be broken.  

Adieu ICC Champions Trophy

The only tournament apart from world cup in which top teams of the world use to clash after every two years raised its curtains for the seventh and final time on June 6th  2013.

Yes, The Champions Trophy which holds a curious ,mezzanine status: elevated from the rest , but designed to squat below the best is ready to say adieu . From a concept in 1998, through six chapters, the ‘Mini-World Cup’ has found its relevance many times-and now ,it turn out, answered .The World Test Championship is going to replace Champions Trophy in 2017.     

The Champions Trophy will not be mourned , but there will undeniably be nostalgic looks back at it . After all it has thrown up some enduring memories-

South Africa riding on a young Kallis's shoulders to its only worldwide triumph till date ; New Zealand ,similarly,capturing its only big trophy,West Indian tail-enders Ian Bradshaw and Courtney Browne ambushing England in the darkness; a callow left-hander called Yuvraj Singh flogging Australia speechless at the Nairobia Gymkhana and of course the year 2002 final in which the teams played 110 Overs, but there was no result which India won jointly with Sri Lanka under the captaincy of the great Sourav Ganguly .

Talking about India and the man with midas touch Mahendra Singh Dhoni who is often been reminded that his collection of titles as captain does not include the Champions Trophy ,now has a last chance to have this one as well under his captaincy for team India and complete the tally of trophies. Well he performs best when he is under pressure and have a point to prove so we surly can expect this silver wear as well from him ,as ICC Champions Trophy looks like an open tournament and probably it’s the current world champion  team India only which is lead by an experienced and successful captain .     

Lets hope MSD And Co. do it one more time for India and make it even more memorable !!!!!

IPL - The Juggernaut Of Entertainment

Ever heard of a stress –buster loaded with stress ? Of course  yes !! In fact you have been experiencing it for past five years. The Indian premier league has entered in its 6^th edition and for the next two months you will not have to look for movies to watch ,for rather you have to manage how to watch the three and a half hour show of complete entertainment  each day.

This holiday season of the year is meant for only entertainment by the bollywood flavored cricket .No matter how much cricket is being played round the year ,this form of cricket has  always been successful to catch the attention of whole cricket loving world .

9 teams ,  76 matches and 1 destination but this journey to destination is  packed with unpredictability and photo –finishes that are bound to keep you on the edges of you seats .From its first season itself the thought of watching the favorite stars of world cricket sharing the same team thrilled every one towards Indian premier league . There is something special about this T20 format that the winner in its tournaments donot have  experienced captain to lead say T20 world cup winners - India (2007 captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni ) ,Pakistan (2009 captain Shahid Afridi) , England (2010 captain Paul Collingwood ) , West Indies (2012 captain Darren Sammy) . IPl also share the same legacy as it has proven to be an event where assertive leaders set the tone in winning sides-from Shane Warne (Rajasthan Royals ) , Adam Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers) , Mahendra Singh Dhoni ( Chennai Super Kings) to Gautam Gambhir ( Kolkata Knight Riders ).

Although there is a lot of money involved in this tournament but it actually does not matter if you had flaunted the heavy purse to own a IPL franchise for ten years and always remain in news only for showing money power at player auctions than any spectacular team performance like the RIL owned Mumbai Indians. Every year IPL remain in news for some or the other reason and this year it seems that Delhi Daredevils is facing plenty of pre-tournament blues much before donning their newly designed blues. Of course lot more actions and twists are lined for you to keep you involved in the event.

So get ready to stop your clock on the juggernaut of entertainment !!

Team India Thrashes Australia

He keeps that unorthodox element in his batting as well ,bat -speed combined with strong wrists as the sphere was sent rocketing to distant corners was the ‘power play ‘ by  Mahendra Singh Dhoni at MA Chidambaram Stadium ,Chennai. Many batsman might also thinks to do the same but there is difference between only thinking and actually implementing it , he takes care of later part too ,probably that’s why he is termed as great finisher of modern days and a captain who leads from front . 

Many players were under radar before the start of Border- Gavaskar trophy and eventually maximum of them have performed in the first test match .After the retirement of Dravid and Laxman ,Sachin Tendulkar had superbly played the role of sheet anchor after not so good start from openers and soaked the pressure and made the things look simple again with his experience in willow wielding craft .He guided young Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli in consolidating their innings  ,before getting dismissed by an off-spin that turned sharply from the edge of the rough just beyond the good length area (bowled again !!! ).

The Australian close-in cordon was in and the host was under stress. But Dhoni had disrupted Lyon’s length by getting forward and clouting the spinner to leg without allowing the ball to spin or jump .Then comes the adventurous final session which was the replica of shorter formats of the game where Mahendra Singh Dhoni always fell short of partners but he always keeps his cool and respond to the pressure .Dhoni showed no mercy to the bowlers as he smashed 109 runs in the final sessions and completes his first double century in test cricket.

Both Indian bowlers and batsmen performed in the way they were expected . Ravichandran Ashwin took two 5 wicket hauls , Mahendra Singh Dhoni hits double ton , Virat Kohli scored a ton and Sachin Tendulkar scored valuable  81 , but slight concern still remain about the openers which was compensated though by Tendulkar's message to Lyon by hitting two sixes of the first two balls he has faced in his second innings !! However we should not get carried away by this as England was also smashed in their first test match but came back ! Panesar was not rated much by anyone and he surprised a few , but India seems to be aware of this factor as they were a bit surprised as Xavier Doherty was not included in the team as second spinner for the first test.

The best part is team India won the test match and this time they were not tired and have actually prepared for this important series .The pitch responded the way it was meant to be and ball turned for Indian spinners and favored Indian batsmen more than the visiting players. Hopefully pitch respond in the same way at other venues as well and  India continue to perform well throughout the series.

India Team Lacked Specialist Openers

You might wonder that I am going to discuss the present scenario of Indian team ,than my answer would be a no rather than a expected yes .

Opening position is the only slot with which India had experimented much and the truth is that team India had never found a specialist opener till date. The recent experiment at this position by the India’s most luckiest captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is with Rohit Sharma who is known to  get far more chances than what a player with a history of failures usually deserves got a chance to open as well but the experiment has only complicated the problem .

The point which should be  noted here is that ,in a country with 27 first-class teams with at least two specialist openers in each squad , the  national team is made to experiment middle order batsmen turning out to open the innings .Sachin Tendulkar , Sourav Ganguly , Rahul Dravid ,VVS Laxman , Virender Sehwag and more recently Virat Kohli ,who staked their claims as middle-order batsmen ,have all opened for the country in one format or the other. It is indeed  surprising why a country , with such a settled domestic structure , struggles to find a specialists to do a specialized jobs. Some of the better teams in the world , except India , are looking for specialist in every format of the game. How can you expect team to excel if they don’t have openers , it actually affect the performance of other players .

Team India usually experiments to achieve short-term goals and the team is usually bound to suffer in long term . Dhoni’s trial and error method need not bring in the desirable results with consistency. However looking at his recent tactics , it looks like India is strengthening its bench strength in bowling for 2015 world cup , as I am pretty much sure that our experienced pace attack is going to take charge for team .But how can we don’t have ‘horses for courses’ in batting department when it’s the batting for which Indian team is known for !!