Dhoni's Practical Approach Has Been His Biggest Asset

Fans and well-wishers fervently pray for one last hurrah from the former India captain

- Y.B. Sarangi

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’selder brother Narendra Singh Dhoni says, “Mahi is a footballer-turned-cricketer, while I am a cricketer-turned-footballer.

“Perhaps Mahi does not know about my cricket. I played for the school football team as goalkeeper in several national-level events,” says Narendra.

“Mahi’s contribution in the two finals was the biggest — placing a short fine-leg to take Pakistan’s last wicket in the 2007 final (World T20) and coming up the order in the 2011 final (ICC World Cup),” Narendra says about the two World titles India won under his brother’s captaincy.

Different role

“This time, his role is different, but very important,” says Narendra, admitting his ‘generation gap’ with MSD (10 years) and the lack of cricket talk with his brother.

Jaykumar Sinha, a former Ranchi University coach and convenor of the Jharkhand State Cricket Association, follows MSD’s moves closely.

Sinha, who has seen MSD evolve from a youngster to a World champion, decodes Captain Cool’s game. “There is no one to replace him,” he says.

One of his closest friends and teammate in the Bihar and Railways sides Satya Prakash speaks about MSD’s ability to adapt.

“We used to call him atankwadi (terrorist). He used to hit 40-50 runs off20 balls. But he became a saint when he played for the country and changed his approach.”

Deepak Singh, MSD’s batch-mate and room-mate in SER, has some fond memories.