Saturday, August 29, 2020

Monty Panesar Recalls MS Dhoni's Sixes and Calls Him a Great Leader


Monty Panesar was talking about MS Dhoni:

“I think (when) Dhoni came into (the) reckoning was actually his hundred against Pakistan, when he was pulling Shoaib Akhtar for fours and sixes. We all were sitting and wondering - ‘Oh, how is he doing that?’” Panesar further added.

Panesar, most likely, was talking about Dhoni’s innings of 148 in Faisalabad Test in 2006 against Pakistan. It is so because when Dhoni smashed 148 in the 2005 ODI against Pakistan in Vizag, Akhtar was not playing.

“And then I remember bowling to him in Kolkata where he hit me for a six out of nowhere. It just went miles. Dhoni’s six-hitting ability is almost 20 meters further than the normal batsman,” the former England pacer added.

I think I always found MSD very calm, collected and he always seemed like life was going at a slow pace for him. It was like nothing was bothering him. It was his calm demeanor that was his strength. Not a lot of cricketers have this quality, but he had it throughout his whole career. I think that’s what makes him such a great, great leader,” Panesar signed off.

Source: HT

Monday, August 17, 2020

MS Dhoni: India's Baahubali Captain

Click to access the article on Rediff: 

India's Baahubali Captain

By SHREEKANT SAMBRANI

With Dhoni's Retirement, CSK Stock Price Sees Correction Too; But This is More Positive Than Negative For CSK

When Mahendra Singh Dhoni announced retirement from international cricket this past Saturday, unlisted shares of IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK), which he leads, saw a small correction in the unofficial market for trading in such shares. 

CSK shares have plunged over 10 per cent in the past couple of weeks and traded at Rs 48-50, coming down from Rs 52-55 in August first week. 

Dealers said the correction over the weekend was more of sentimental, and they are very confident about the prospects of the sports franchise in the long run, as the fundamentals remain strong. 

This is more positive than negative for CSK, as he will continue to play IPL. The team may capitalise this business opportunity over the next couple of seasons, contributing to more revenues,” said Sunil Chandak of Mumbai based Gennext Investrade, which deals in such shares. 

Dhoni will now be an exclusivity for IPL,” he said. “This might increase advertisement rates for matches of Chennai Super Kings. Everyone will tend to monetise the nostalgia associated with Dhoni.” 

The 13th edition of IPL kicks off on September 19, 2020. It is highly anticipated that the next edition will be held as per the normal schedule over March-May 2021, which may feature MS Dhoni once again. 

Source and full article: ET

MS Dhoni changed the game forever and captured the hearts of all India fans: Kevin Mitchell, The Guardian

The summer of 2005 will for ever be regarded as the most vivid in the memory of those who celebrated or suffered England’s victory in the Ashes to emerge from a sea of disappointment that at one point seemed to have no horizon. But England ending 18 years of subjugation by Australia was not the only entry of note in the following Wisden Almanack.

At Visakhapatnam on India’s sprawling eastern coast that April, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the son of a railway ticket collector from the north, hit the first of his 359 career sixes for India to build the foundations of a maiden one‑day century of such scintillating brilliance the Pakistan bowlers were reduced to hands-on-hips awe.

For the next 15 years, he would repeat his elegant, murderous hitting nearly everywhere he went, with lapses to remind us of his mortality, followed just as quickly by revivals, as if he were riding a wave beyond his control. And, when he was elevated to the captaincy of the one-day team then the Test side, expectations grew like a storm.

Yet Dhoni seemed not to buckle, as others sometimes did. Captaining India at cricket surely has the sharpest double-edged dividend in sport. It is a rarefied place that 33 players have been to since they joined the five Test-playing nations in 1932, and the leadership of such a volatile and passionate nation has broken some, elevated others. The price they have all paid is privacy and comfort. Sachin Tendulkar, famously, could go driving in his fancy car only in the middle of the night.

None has done the job more often or more successfully than Dhoni, the 31st so honoured, in Tests or the shorter forms: 60 Tests, 27 wins, 18 defeats and 15 draws; a mountainous 200 in one-day internationals, with 110 wins, 74 losses, five ties and 11 no-results for a winning return of 58% in completed games; and, in Twenty20 matches he captained India to 41 wins out of 72.

Those are just numbers, as is his Test average of 38.09, considered by some as paltry when compared with his contemporaries’. Dhoni, who played the last of his 90 Tests in 2014 (the same year Chris Gayle left Test matches behind), cared little for such details, and a lot for the end result, as well as the manner of its delivery.

His metier was over 50 and 20 overs, and, when on song, he created the sweetest symphonies. It is telling that he averaged 50.57 in 350 ODIs, and 37.60 in 98 Twenty20 games at the highest level. Dhoni epitomised the modern batsman and the modern game.

It has been an enthralling journey. As Dhoni plundered with the bat, and whipped bails away with the quickest gloves in the game since Bob Taylor, a billion Indians loved him for his often exasperating genius.

When he confirmed on Saturday that he was retiring from international cricket, it was as if the Ganges had burst its banks in a flood of uncontrolled emotion – even though, at 39, he looked to have timed his departure as perfectly as the six he hit to win the World Cup in 2011.

Indeed, he might have crafted his exit with telling symmetry, say his devoted followers. One even claimed he announced his retirement at 7.29pm his time on Instagram because it matched the same tick of the clock as the moment when the World Cup semi‑final lost to New Zealand ended last summer. Not quite – but close enough to buttress the legend.

Nevertheless, Dhoni always gave the impression of mastering his own rhythm, regardless of what was going on around him. Sometimes, it cost India victory; mostly it did not. He was as deadly a finisher as the Australian Michael Bevan according to Shane Warne, during the rain break in the second England-Pakistan Test at Southampton on Saturday.

As Nasser Hussain pointed out in that conversation: “This will be a massive, massive story in India. The only story in India.”

Indeed it was. And is. Soumya Bhattacharya, author and cricket writer, described eloquently why this would be so in his delightful 2006 love poem to the game, You Must Like Cricket? Memoirs Of An Indian Cricket Fan.

“You need to see us to really know the answer to that,” he writes in response to his book’s own question, “see us out on the streets in the afternoon heat, radiant faces shining through all the colours on this Sunday afternoon.”

The afternoon of which Bhattacharya spoke was the completion of India’s first ever Test win at Eden Gardens over Pakistan, earlier in that summer of 2005, a victory that preceded Dhoni’s explosive arrival. In his first appearance the previous year, he was run out for a first-ball duck against Bangladesh in Chittagong. But his recall was inevitable.

His career is not entirely over. Dhoni will resume playing next month for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, and is likely to build more hundreds there for a while yet.

He undoubtedly is worth his place at the top table of one-day players in the modern era, and there has been much social media chat about who should make an all-time XI, Dhoni or Adam Gilchrist. Both were so good with bat and gloves it would be odd to exclude either of them, even if it unbalanced a batting lineup.

Who would really care? They led the way for wicketkeeper-batsmen, setting impossibly high standards, and lifting cricket into a realm of one-day (or one-night) entertainment that seemed inconceivable in a previous generation. Now it is the centrepiece of cricket in most countries.

Those who know him best are in no doubt about Dhoni’s worth. “Winning the 2011 World Cup together has been the best moment of my life,” Tendulkar told him.

Hussain got it right too: “Probably the best white‑ball captain there has ever been. A great finisher. It wasn’t over until you got Dhoni out. A phenomenally calm, cool customer.”

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/aug/16/ms-dhoni-changed-the-game-forever-and-captured-the-hearts-of-all-india-fans


Sunday, August 16, 2020

15th of August, 2020: MS Dhoni Announces Retirement from International Cricket

Breaking the hearts of millions of fans, MS Dhoni announced retirement from international Cricket last evening. I can only say one thing, "Come back, Dhoni". 

Here are some of the news reports published about this news:

MS Dhoni retires from international cricket

"Consider Me Retired": MS Dhoni Announces End Of An Era

MS Dhoni announces retirement from international cricket

MS Dhoni retirement: Bollywood stars hail cricket icon

Wife Sakshi Singh Dhoni's Reaction To MS Dhoni's Retirement Announcement

Sakshi Dhoni Pens Emotional Tribute On MS Dhoni's Retirement, "Must Have Held Those Tears"

MS Dhoni retires |‘I realised this guy has power’: Irfan Pathan recalls his first memory of MSD

MS Dhoni retires: 5 world records the former India captain still holds

MS Dhoni retirement: 5 bold decisions of MSD that shocked everyone but won India matches

Dhoni retires from intl cricket; Shah, Sachin, Sourav among many to say 'end of an era'

MS Dhoni retires from international cricket after 535 matches for India

MS Dhoni announces retirement from international cricket

MS Dhoni retires; thanks fans for love and support

MS Dhoni retirement | ‘He groomed Virat Kohli’: Sunil Gavaskar explains why Dhoni is a ‘legend’

MS Dhoni retires from all international cricket

MS Dhoni retires: full coverage

MS Dhoni retirement leaves a void in world cricket

India legend MS Dhoni retires from international cricket with 39-year-old World Cup winner announcing his decision on Instagram

‘There will never be anyone like him’ — the tributes pour in as Dhoni retires

'Thank you MS Dhoni' - Reactions flood in as MSD announces retirement from international cricket

Indian cricket great MS Dhoni retires after 16-year international career

Thursday, August 6, 2020

Sam Billings Recalls Memories With MS Dhoni and CSK


England cricketer Sam Billings recalled his two-year stint with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and revealed how he struck a relationship with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni over their love for Premier League club Manchester United.

Billings stated rubbing shoulders with some of the best Indian and foreign players in the CSK dressing room was a big learning curve for him, especially watching Dhoni from close quarters, as to how he approaches the game.

"For me, that experience, learning from those great players, the overseas guys but also the homegrown Indian stars. I mean, no bigger star than MS Dhoni in terms of my role that I want to fulfill," Billings told Cricbuzz in a video uploaded on their website.

"There is no better person to learn from than MSD. For me, it was great to pick his brains and enjoy the environment he has created there," he added.

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

MS Dhoni is that style of player that even presidents and prime ministers talk about him, says Dean Jones


Former Australian cricketer Dean Jones has seen Mahendra Singh Dhoni play from close quarters for the latter’s entire career span. Jones has been a cricket commentator and pundit during international matches and in theIPL and that has helped him analyse Dhoni’s game closely and he can’t wait for the former India captain to take to the field during the IPL in UAE after a long hiatus from cricket.

“Look I am a huge MS Dhoni fan. I think he is among the top 6 greatest cricketers of all time for India. If he has a good IPL and the other boys don’t then come the World Cup he might be looked at.

“So, it’s a big opportunity and knowing MS he will prepare himself to absolute perfection to get himself ready for this and I hope he does well,” Jones told Hindustan Times during an exclusive conversation.

Jones believes Dhoni has the rare ability of keeping the audience on tenterhooks due to his unpredictability both as a leader and as a batsman and that is what makes him an entertainer.

“What he does is he makes past players like myself and people to just move forward in their seats and watch how he goes about his cricket. There aren’t too many players who could do that. If you have gone to watch a match and MS is playing, people are always on the edge of their seats because they don’t know what he is going to do next.

“He is a great entertainer and I hope he will have a great IPL because I am looking forward to how he plays,” Jones said.

Asked about his favourite MS Dhoni moment, Deano spoke about the time when Pakistan’s former President General Pervez Musharraf complimented the wicket-keeper batsman on his long hair.

“Probably the hair cut in Pakistan. I was commentating and President Musharraf told him to keep the hair cut and said he looked good in it. He is that style of player that even presidents and prime ministers talk about him because he really captivates everyone,” Jones said.

In IPL, Dhoni has led the CSK team to three titles and five runners-up finishes. He lost another final with Rising Pune Supergiant.

Adam Gilchrist picks Dhoni as the best keeper among the list of greats


Adam Gilchrist is often credited for revolutionising the role of wicket-keeper’s in international cricket. Gilchrist who was a safe house behind the stumps, did a lot of damage with the bat in limited-overs cricket as an opener and also as a No.7 in Test cricket. The former Australia cricketer who is regarded as one of the best wicket-keepers to have ever played the game, ranked India’s MS Dhoni, Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum and South Africa’s Mark Boucher according to his preference and also chose the best among them.

Gilchrist picked Dhoni as the best keeper among the list of greats.

“Look it got to be Dhoni ...my name is Gilly not silly I understand I’m talking to an Indian with a lot of Indian supporters so of course, Dhoni’s up the top then Sangakara and Brendon (McCullum),” said Gilchrist in an interview with TV presenter Madonna Tixeira in her show ‘Live Connect’.

Dhoni is No.3 in the list of wicket-keepers with most dismissals behind Boucher and Gilchrist. The former India captain has 634 catches and 195 stumpings – the most – to his name as a keeper.

Along with his wicketkeeping skills, Dhoni is also rated as one of the best finishers of the game. He has 10,773 runs in ODIs at an average of 50.83. Under his leadership, India won the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy.

Speaking about Dhoni as a cricketer, Gilchrist said he loved watching the Indian keeper’s career develop.

“I have really loved watching his career develop. He came on the scene with this amazing 100 that just set everyone on loving him and following him and the style of Cricket that he played. But his rise to fame and fortune and everything and the expectation in a country like India that is passionate about so many things certainly Cricket. I think the way he handled himself was extraordinary,” Gilchrist said in his first Instagram interaction.

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Rohit Sharma Calls MS Dhoni "One of a Kind Cricketer"


India’s limited-overs deputy Rohit Sharma plays down comparison with the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni and called the former India skipper ‘one of a kind’ cricketer. 

Rohit was responding to Suresh Raina’s views on the Super Over podcast, where he likened the former to MSD. “Yes, I heard about that comment from Suresh Raina,” Rohit said in a Twitter video he posted in reply to a fan question. “MS Dhoni is one of a kind and nobody can be like him and I believe comparisons should not be made like that, every individual is different and has his strengths and weaknesses.” 

Monday, August 3, 2020

MS Dhoni is a Pure Instinct Man: N Srinivasan

While speaking on Dhoni in the webinar, the former BCCI president N. Srinivasan revealed that the Ranchi-born wicket-keeper refrains himself from judging a cricketer on his stats. Instead, Dhoni focuses on seeing their performance in the nets or pressure situations to know about their calibre.

“So, MS Dhoni doesn’t attend this, he’s a pure instinct man. The bowling coach, (head coach Stephen) Fleming will be there and everybody will be there, everyone is giving opinions, (but) he’ll get up and go.

In the context of instinct, he feels that okay he can assess a batsman or player on the field, that’s his judgement. On the other hand, there is so much data that is available to help a person also analyse. It’s a very difficult line to draw (between data and instinct),” Srinivasan said.

Dhoni is one of the most successful captains in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He is the only skipper to have led his team in nine out of the 12 finals so far. Chennai Super Kings has won the T20 Trophy three times under Mahi’s leadership. He also has the record of winning the most number of matches as the captain for his team in the cash-rich league.


Sunday, August 2, 2020

Shahid Afridi Rates MS Dhoni as a Better Captain than Australia’s Ricky Ponting


Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi rated Dhoni as a better captain than Australia’s Ponting. Explaining the reasons behind opting for Dhoni, Afridi said the former India captain built a team with youngsters.

One of the fans asked: “Better captain Dhoni or Ponting? Lala choice?”. Afridi replied by saying: “I rate Dhoni a bit higher than Ponting as he developed a new team full of youngsters.” 

Hailed as the two of the most successful captains in the history of the game – Ponting and Dhoni have two World Cup titles to their name and have helped their respective teams to scale greater heights. It was Dhoni who led India to victory in the inaugural edition of T20 World Cup in 2007 before claiming the prestigious 50-over World Cup in 2011. He remains the only captain to win all major ICC trophies (50-over World Cup, T20 World Cup, and Champions Trophy).