Mahendra Singh Dhoni : A breathtaking talent emerging out from Bihar Things have changed and changed only for the good of Indian Cricket. There was a time, when Sachin Tendulkar was the main hero who could save India with support cast from the Azhars, Jadejas, Dravids, Gangulys, Kumbles and others. But let’s get off from such stereotyped thoughts now and welcome the young crop of talented players who know how to win matches more than anything else.
That list is being populated; it started off with Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan. After having seen the Nairobi Tri Series involving Kenya, India A and Pakistan A , I predict a name Mahendra Singh Dhoni to that list. That name Mahendra Singh Dhoni may not figure into the Indian team very soon with Dinesh Karthik just coming in for Parthiv and Dinesh Karthik, I am sure would be given a fair trial.
The first time I ever saw this name was in the newspapers, when I came across this statement in a newspaper M.S.Dhoni the wicket keeper batsman from Bihar was also considered, but we chose for Dinesh Karthik. That was the news article about the Indian team selection for the Holland Tri Series, The Natwest Challenge and the subsequent Champions Trophy. I am always curious to know more about the new names that are rocking at the domestic level.
All I could know about Dhoni was that he was playing Ranji Trophy for Bihar. Bihar? Yes that’s right, isn’t it the first time that we are hearing about a cricketer from Bihar? (atleast for me). Well hats off to this 23-year-old Dhoni to come into reckoning playing in the Plate division of the Ranji Trophy. And his achievements are even more commendable as he comes from Laloo or Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Bihar Cricket Association or Cricket Association of Bengal.
Till date of writing this article, M.S.Dhoni has played 27 1st class games and has scored over 1400 runs with a century and 10 half centuries at a decent average of 30 plus. And mind you this guy isn’t a batsman alone, he’s also a live wire behind the stumps with 65 catches and 13 stumpings to his name. Dhoni is not a Parthiv Patel in batting who just excels in the longer version of the game.
He is a dashing stroke maker who already has hit 4-100s and 9-50s in just 33 limited overs first class games. He has a beautiful batting average of over 55. I was taken aback by Dhoni’s batting talent when he played in the Nairobi Tri Series.
This wicket keeper was batting at no.3 for India A and his batting along with Gautam Gambhir’s (who played for India in the Dhaka tri series, just after the World Cup) was a delight and a breath of fresh air. Mahendra Dhoni is a well-built person and his batting style is somewhat different from what you see often. He tends to reach out and drive the ball by extending his wrists. He has the uncanny knack of hitting big sixes and especially the ones over extra covers off both fast bowlers and spinners.
Now tell me isn’t someone who can hit such kind of sixes a special talent or not? Dhoni can also hit the slog sweep for sixes, but that isn’t as special or unique as his ability to hit the lofted cover drives. This lad packs a punch in his shots, but he is no Laxman or a Ganguly when it comes to running between the wickets.
He is a quick sprinter between the wickets and always looks at the possibility of running an extra run. Whether it is keeping or batting, this youngster is upto the task and is certainly a bright prospect. Dinesh Karthik should most definitely be performing at his very best; otherwise M.S.Dhoni is catching up and is catching up very quickly.
A healthy competition for the wicket keeper slot finally and that’s only good news for Indian Cricket. I am sure M.S.Dhoni would get his turn to play for India and if he can produce atleast 60% of what he had played against Pakistan A and Kenya, then my word is that this guy would be a resounding success in the near future.