There is typical trait of Sports legends. They make statement on playground when situation up the ante. In 2003-04 during tour down under, Sachin had a poor show during first three Test matches. Just when critics started frowning, Tendulkar produced a majestic knock of 241.
In 1996, Azhar was going through worst phase of his career. He was sacked from captaincy and many thought that days of Azhar as batsman were also numbered. Azhar however unleashed flurry of Test centuries in 1996-97.
And now we have MS Dhoni. Just when none other than Sourav Ganguly started losing faith in Dhoni’s credentials in T-20, Dhoni produced a knock on 22nd April against SRH, which can be tipped as a near perfect T-20 knock to say the least. With this nail biting innings, Dhoni has emphatically reminded us what great finisher he is and which class of outstanding players, he epitomizes.
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Though diehard Dhoni’s fans are not surprized, as they know their idol so very well. Dhoni is blessed very strong sense of conviction and thus he takes decision on his own and without iota of doubt. He asked Joginder Sharma to bowl last over of World T-20 final, which apparently was a weird decision. Then in World Cup final 2011, despite poor batting form, he promoted himself in batting order ahead of in-form Yuvraj. No matter how bizarre his decisions looked, they delivered him gold.
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In 2015, Dhoni realized that his time for Test stint was up, he gave up (like Australians do, remember Adam Gilchrist). After 2015 World Cup semi-final drubbing, when many thought that Dhoni may quit, Dhoni didn’t. Then he took everybody by surprize by giving up ODI/T-20 captaincy.
He was removed from the captaincy of RPS during the start of the season, which Ravi Shastri described so very well that it was so poignant watching Dhoni in playing eleven but not at toss.
But Dhoni literally has nothing left to prove or to worry about. With Virat Kohli, he has been India’s best finishers and chasers ever in ODI and T-20.
His self-belief enables him to control the game to his convenience. He knows that when to assault. On July 11, 2013 in ODI against Sri Lanka at Port of Spain, Dhoni showed his class. While chasing, India was nine down at 182 after 46.2 Overs, still 20 runs away from the target.
Just one wicket in hand, Dhoni didn’t panic and he alongwith Ishant Sharma added just five runs in next 22 balls. Dhoni ensured that strike is with him at the start of 50th Over with 15 still needed. Master finished the game in three hits.
His innings on 22nd April 2017 against Warner’s SRH was in same league only.
So with Dhoni is back with his hitting mojo, RPS can have a sigh of relief and Dhoni’s fan can look forward to some fire-work in remaining matches.
At last but not the least; as they say, “Class is permanent and form is temporary “. Dhoni certainly is class.