ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Is the climax in sight for MS Dhoni?

Birmingham: ‘With great power comes great responsibility’ utters a cult superhero in one of the Hollywood flicks. The life and times of Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been no less, with a similar script. 

There is no doubt that Dhoni contributes to the team in more ways than one, he is still quick with the gloves behind the stumps and also uses all his experience to adequately guide Kohli in the field, especially when the pressure is on. You never know when he’ll pull a rabbit out of the hat in the knockouts and win India the game with the bat. 

Change in role
Over the years, as he has relieved himself from the captaincy duties, Dhoni has seen a changed role in the batting line-up too. India are considered bit brittle in the middle-order and hence Dhoni was given the responsibility to anchor the innings, which at times means mending the offensive approach.

However, there have been some questionable refusal of singles recently by Dhoni, most notably in this World Cup. It is absolutely fine when there is a number ten or number eleven batsman at the other end, and he refuses a single. But when there is a capable middle-order batsman or a decent lower order batsman, such strategy is questionable.

Perhaps, people are so accustomed to seeing him in the bludgeoning IPL mould, they just can’t digest the new role for the veteran.

Yet many people have questioned why Dhoni hasn’t taken the IPL approach because when he batted for CSK in the recently concluded season, he was striking the ball at a higher rate and was much more aggressive with his intent. One reason might be that in the IPL he is playing a 20-over game whereas in the World Cup, 50 overs is a long time and he doesn’t want to throw away his wicket early on.

Sachin defends Dhoni
Dhoni was slammed by fans on social media yet again for his tepid innings against Bangladesh in Birmingham on Tuesday but Sachin Tendulkar said the 33-ball 35 was an important innings for India.

On Tuesday after India defeated Bangladesh to qualify for the semi-finals, Tendulkar said MS Dhoni always thought of the team first.

“I felt it was an important innings and he (MS Dhoni) did exactly what was right for the team. If he stays till the 50th over, he can help other guys around him. He is expected to do that and he did that.

“For him, it is more about the team. Whatever is the need of the hour, one needs to do that and on Tuesday, he did that perfectly,” Tendulkar said.

Retirement plans?
“You never know with MS Dhoni. But it is unlikely that he will continue to play for India after this World Cup. But since his decisions to quit captaincy from the three formats have been taken so suddenly, it is very difficult to predict at the moment,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on condition of anonymity.

The current selection committee, which is likely to stay till the October AGM, will obviously start the changeover process looking at the ICC World T20 in Australia next year.

It is being reported that nothing has been announced yet due to India’s progression in the ongoing World Cup in England and Wales. 

Lack of intent
It is hard to put a finger on that ‘something’, perhaps his intent or lack of it.

Over the last few years, questions on Dhoni’s batting role has remained a touchy subject in press conferences, and on Sunday batting coach Sanjay Bangar got rather itchy when the talk became about the man in the No.7 jersey. “I’m surprised that this question continues to come up every now and then,” said Bangar. “He’s doing the job for the team and overall we’re very happy with the intent he’s batting with.”

The wicket-keeper was booed against Afghanistan and against England, Nasser Hussain and Sourav Ganguly said they were baffled with his go-slow approach in a steep chase.

A day after India’s final group game against Sri Lanka, Dhoni will turn 38, the same age Sachin Tendulkar was when Dhoni led him to a World Cup trophy.

Back then in 2011, Tendulkar managed to put a hold on time and play with the same fluidity in his sixth World Cup as he had in his first. Dhoni is in his fourth edition, which perhaps is his final one. If he too can turn the clock back, the fans will not only erupt when he walks into the field, but also at the end of his innings. Maybe it’s the time for the final hurrah!