Mahendra Singh Dhoni would be playing this ICC Champions Trophy 2017 as a non-captain, may be his last appearance in an ICC event as there are speculations that he may retire soon from the International cricket owing to age factor. He was the one who marshaled team India to victory in the last edition of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. This time, Virat Kohli will be leading team India’s defense at the coveted event. Interestingly, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the only Indian captain to lift an ICC World Cup and ICC T20 WC, rare feat by a rare man.
A fan’s letter:
The first time I saw you, I drooled over your long, flowy mane. I had read and had heard about you. But could not see you in full-throttle as you departed early. Then came Bhubaneshwar and Pakistan, no one can forget how you smashed Pakistani bowlers to all parts and as they say the rest is history. You went from strength to strength, winning games for India. I remember you being praised by then Pakistani President Pervez Musharaf, he even asked you not to trim your hair, which you did later. Then came 2007 and Indian cricket reached a new low after they were eliminated in the Group stage of the World Cup. That is when BCCI took stringent action against all senior players, just before the inaugural T20 World Cup. Surprisingly, you were made the captain ahead of senior players like Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. But the way you led the side to an impossible win was outstanding and as they say the rest is history. From there you made a long-lived dream come true by lifting the ICC World Cup 2011, a crown that was devoid for 28 years.
In between, you showed class and finishing skills to win games for India. You won the IPL crown for Chennai Super Kings twice and then also took the Jharkhand Ranji team to greater heights. You kept inspiring umpteen youngsters to take to the sport and today your state Ranji team is a serious contender. You were the one who spread cricket across the country.
You are no more the captain of India and may call it a day soon. In a few days time you will donn the blues again and this time it could be the last ICC trophy he will be a part of. It would be interesting to see, if like Imran Khan, Mahendra Singh Dhoni can sign off on a high? If that happens it will be another tale written.
If this is Ranchi Rambo’s last, then he would want to bid bye on a high. With the kind of form and fitness, along with experience that he possesses it will not be wrong to say that he may prove us all wrong and go on to play the 2019 Cricket World Cup. But that is thinking far-fethched, I feel he should call it a day if Indian defend their title, as you already have a Rishabh Pant waiting in the wings to take over.
