Michael Bevan and Mike Hussey step aside. International cricket’s newest 'finisher' is here, and here to stay!
Of all batsmen who have seen their teams home with match-winning knocks in one-day cricket, no one averages more than Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The Indian captain averages a whopping 120-plus in situations where he has had to guide his side to victory, well clear of the chasing pack, if there is any such thing. The closest to him in such efforts is retired Sri Lankan left-hander Russel Arnold, averaging 94. Bevan is a distant third with early 80s average.
Unlike the two aforementioned left-handers who were careful accumulators, Dhoni is — by instinct and nature — a downright destroyer. Increasingly, though, his aggressive intents have had to be put in cold storage because, having opted for a young line-up, Dhoni has brought upon himself the additional responsibility of providing substance to the middle-order.
The seamless shift from all-out aggressor to canny milker has to be one of Dhoni's greater triumphs. He is far from the complete package as a batsman, especially in Test cricket whose demands are vastly different to the one-day game. Despite his obvious limitations, Dhoni is a success simply because he plays within those limitations, cutting out the frills and willing to sacrifice flamboyance for results.
Yuvraj Singh, the deputy behind whom Dhoni stood steadfast even as calls for the left-hander's head were gradually gaining decibel levels, hit the nail on the head when he spoke of Dhoni's consistency in successfully handling pressure situations in the limited-overs format. The Jharkhandi’s calling card was his unconventional approach to batsmanship, a unique craft perfected by playing tennis ball cricket catching teams worldwide off guard at first. As the novelty factor wore off and sides stayed away from his strength, Dhoni was required to re-adjust his focus.
Need for change
Instead of standing on ego and refusing to acknowledge that he needed to adapt, the 26-year-old acknowledged the necessity for change. There will still be days when he walks out and tears into bowling attacks, because that is a gift he will never lose. Those days, however, will be few and far between. Instead, what will be on show more often is the intelligent working of the ball, precise placement, the little dinks and delicate dabs, and a frenetic pace between the wickets that can put pressure not just on the fielding side but at times on his own batting partners, too!
Building for future
The curbing of his power-striking is also one of the principal compromises Dhoni has had to make as he looks at building a side for the future. This limited-overs team is the captain's choice, and he is eager to stamp his authority on it. To him, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag would appear anachronisms, though Sehwag himself is still only 29. Yuvraj apart, the rest of the batting unit in particular has little big-match experience, increasing the burden on the skipper’s over-worked but capable shoulders.
Over the last two games at the Adelaide Oval, Dhoni has made it all too obvious that he doesn't necessarily need Sehwag’s services. The former captain will undoubtedly return to the side at some stage in the tri-series, though he will be smarting at having been dumped summarily at the same venue where his last outing produced a magnificent 151.
Dhoni's handling of the Sehwag issue didn't do him too much credit, especially with the skipper insisting that his opener wasn't a hundred percent fit and Sehwag retorting that there was nothing wrong with him. But that's another story altogether.
Having led from the front and shepherded his experienced vice-captain through a difficult barren phase, Dhoni's next big challenge will be to impress upon his young turks the value of donning India colours, and of putting a price on one’s scalp. The likes of Robin Uthappa and Rohit Sharma, brimming with talent, must understand the honour conferred on them as they step into the shoes once donned by Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly. Mistakes will be committed, for there is no better way to learn, but it is in minimising these errors that the trick lies.
To get a young side to start to look at things the way he does will test Dhoni's mettle. It's not so much a battle as an exercise; if he can pull it off, that will be Mahendra Singh Dhoni's greatest contribution to Indian cricket.