Avalanches of Vituperation Flogged into Oblivion Watching Dhoni Play

Storyline: The much-heralded Mahendra Singh Dhoni, captain of India’s national cricket team, has stepped down.

Anaïs Nin once said, “Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don’t know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishings.”

Well, dear readers, we can relate to this in many forms and in many walks of life. Yes, in sports, too.

As aficionados of sport we are often too emotionally attached to the club and team of our dreams. Isn’t it true? In my nation, India, cricket is more than a religion. It unites us amidst indifference and insecurities. It’s thing that always comforts.

My favorites in cricket are Sir Brian Lara, Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jacques Kallis, Javagal Srinath, Graeme Smith, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (photo, 1.bp.blogspot.com)

A few days ago, one of India’s most successful captains, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, stepped down from leading the national team. Many were shocked at his decision. Some shed a tear. If ever there’s ever to be an elite panel set-up for captains who have led their national sides, I’m confident Dhoni will be among them.

I understand the game moves on and so does life. Events like these wrenches and scorn any kind soul. Neither ode nor a tribute is ever worthy enough to put pen to paper and describe what a person has done to the team and to Indian cricket on a whole.

When India won the inaugural T20 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, 2007, the nation celebrated hard and big. And, after a 23-year long wait, Dhoni lead India to its second World Cup in 2011. It was one of our greatest moments watching him and his contingent lifting the trophy on our home soil, India.

Two years later, in 2013, Dhoni captained India to victory in the ICC Champions League held in England. In fact, he is the first captain to win all three limited-over competitions.

Boy! What a humongous achievement?

Courtesy: Santa Banta

Tributes and panegyrics kept pouring in the moment he broke the news. Rahul Johri, CEO of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, said, “Under his leadership the Indian team has touched new heights, and his achievements will remain etched forever in the annals of Indian cricket”.

One thing that will forever be etched in our memories is this: he played for the team and represented the true spirit of sportsmanship. What all others did on the pitch pales into insignificance compared to what Dhoni did.

Harsha Bhogle, one of the game’s finest voices in his tribute said:

“Of course, he will be missed. His calmness, his dignity on the field. But when the time comes to write a similar story when he finishes with limited overs cricket, we will grow far more wistful. There, he is the poker player, in his element with the cards he holds close to his chest. Oh there, he is a legend, almost incomparable. What Dhoni achieved though, goes way beyond the numbers he produced. He told young Indians in small towns that they could conquer the world. To them he was the beacon, he was the dream that maybe they could achieve too. He showed the way. It is a substantial, and wonderful, thing in life to do. When he finishes there, I don’t think we will know too much more about him though.”

Lastly, to sum up my thoughts …. Avalanches of vituperation can be flogged into oblivion watching you play the game, brother.

We miss you!