Remember how Indian cricket fans were baying for the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar in the last few years of this cricket playing career? This is par for the course with Indian fans; they eulogise and demonise with matching alacrity. They are doing the same now for Mahendra Singh Dhoni. For years now, cricket fans have asked whether it is the end of the road for MSD each time there was a poor performance, a humiliating loss or the failure to capitalise on a good start and win a match. But then Dhoni has the ability to silence the nay-sayers as he did recently:
After losing the first ODI, the Indians were under pressure to perform well; to uphold their reputation after the ‘historic’ series win down under. Chasing once again, the second match seemed to be going the same way as the unsuccessful run chase of the first. Dhoni steadied the ship to ensure that India got the runs they needed in a tight finish.
While the home team licked their wounds at their loss, the Aussie media found a flaw to outrage over. Dhoni had failed to complete one run during the ODI; both failing to get inside his crease and also failing to ground his bat. The umpires did not notice but commentator and former player Adam Gilchrist certainly did. In the end, the non-run did not matter.
India needed almost 10 runs an over in the last 6 overs or so. Dhoni did it in style, ably supported by Karthik, with whom he had a valuable 57 run, unbeaten partnership.
No! Kabhi nahi! This was the resounding answer from cricket fans when posed the question is Dhoni finished.
With his performance, Dhoni proved that he is still has the ability to hold it together; to take stock in a difficult situation and to finish calmly and in style.
Hate is a strong word, but ‘haters’ is the go-to word for anyone on the internet to describe those who offer the mildest of criticism. So the ‘haters’ were apparently silenced by Dhoni's masterful performance where he brought up with his own 69th one-day half-century with a heave over the boundary in the last over.
Dhoni’s detractors would have had to eat their words after the second ODI… or find a place to hide, felt MSD fans.
…that! Steadfast in their loyalty to one of India’s most successful finishers, they had little patience for those who questioned the capability of India's Captain Cool.
The Twitter handle proudly declares itself to a ‘devotee of MSD’ and tweets that Dhoni isn’t like time. Time will not return, MSD will!
This is a reference to the meme-worthy line from the recent Vicky Kaushal starrer Uri, “How’s the Josh?”. It is also a reference to Dhoni’s trademark chopper shot. Clearly, the josh of Dhoni fans is high right now.
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