One win away from becoming the first captain to hold all three ICC titles, India skipper explains how thinking practically, and not emotionally, makes him tick
One win away from
becoming the first captain to hold all three ICC titles, MS Dhoni
explains how thinking practically, and not emotionally, makes him tick
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the epitome of composure on the
cricket field. It takes something exceptional for Dhoni to express
himself emotionally – usually, it’s a fantastic piece of fielding;
sometimes, like on Friday, it is a special delivery of the sort R Ashwin
sent down to Hashim Amla; very rarely, it’s a poor piece of cricket
from a team-mate at a crunch situation.
For the most part, however closely you scrutinise Dhoni’s face, if you didn’t know the match situation, you wouldn’t ever guess if his team was winning or losing. An emotional, hand-waving, finger-pointing captain can sometimes rouse his troops into action but he can also end up sending the wrong signals. With Dhoni, all you get is a sense of calmness. In any team sport, the players that make up the team take their cue from the leader; India’s unflappable approach on the cricket field generally, Virat Kohli’s occasional bursts of aggression notwithstanding, stems from the manner in which Dhoni conducts himself, his serenity extending from the centre outwards and engulfing even the men in the outfield.
By his own admission, Dhoni wasn’t always so. He had his fair share mood swings during his younger days, but with the passage of time and with responsibilities being heaped on his shoulders, Dhoni has come to embrace the monk-like face of the Indian cricket team.
“I don’t think I was calm from my childhood,” Dhoni was candid enough to admit on Saturday (April 5), unfazed, though the title clash in the ICC World Twenty20 2014 against Sri Lanka was a little over 24 hours away. “I’m someone who doesn’t like losing much. When I was young, I had trouble controlling the emotions associated with getting defeated. Over a period of time, I have learnt how to control this emotion. I’m a believer in the fact that your emotions are yours alone and hence you should be the one who knows how to control it. Over time, I found dealing with emotions easier. I feel it is important because in a game, there are so many stages where you don’t want to take a decision emotionally. Practically, you decide what’s the best option.”
It sounds pretty simple, but it’s in the conquest of the mind that the genesis of Dhoni’s success story lies. India’s most successful captain is a solitary win away from becoming the first international skipper to lead his side to the grand ICC treble – the 50-over World Cup, the Champions Trophy and the World T20.
“For us, what is important is doing well in the final. The other factors we don’t really focus on, because it is more important to win a World cup for your country than focus on stats,” he said, offering gently to deflect any extraneous pressure that might be brought to bear upon his team, even if pressure is something that has accompanied him from the time he was made the captain of the T20 International team at the first World T20 in South Africa in 2007.
“I leave it (the pressure) at the stadium because that’s the best thing I can do,” he added with that unique simplification technique that he has mastered. “Over the years that I have been the captain, I have seen almost everything. There is nothing really that I have not seen in cricket. We have seen Indian cricket perform at its best and, at the same time, we had to go through a lean patch where we had really tough times. Controversies are a big part of Indian cricket and I have been through all it. There’s hardly anything good or bad in Indian cricket that happens without my name (being linked to it).
“We have to go through everything but the good thing is we have to concentrate more on the process. I know there are certain things that are in my control. I look to move in that direction rather than thinking or living a thought that’s beyond my control and that has really helped me. It’s been an interesting time, ups and downs. That’s what it is all about in international sport, it doesn’t matter which game you are playing. It has taught me a lot and it’s still a learning curve for me. Hopefully, it will teach me many more things in my life after cricket.”
Dhoni has been accused of being a defensive Test captain who is totally at home attacking only in the limited-overs versions. On Saturday, somebody extended that theme to ask him if he captained differently in ICC tournaments. “Not really,” he replied, at once amused and taken aback by the question. “I think the players have responded really well. If you talk about this tournament, our spinners have come into action. They got a bit of purchase off the wicket and they made sure that they capitalised on that. That’s what team environment is all about. When the fast bowlers have conditions that are in favour of them, then they have to deliver and when it is not in favour of them, when you are playing on flat wickets with a bit of turn, then the spinners have to come into action. Overall, it is a perfect team environment where when we need somebody to do the job, there have been individuals who have risen to the occasion and said I will be the person who will take the responsibility.”
In 2007, Dhoni was a greenhorn when it came to captaincy, shepherding a young side to an unexpected title run. Since then, he has grown into the role and grown in stature. His CV includes a 50-over World Cup crown, the No. 1 Test ranking and the Champions Trophy, among other things. Understandably, though, Dhoni was coy about discussing his leadership approach, and whether that has changed in the last six-and-a-half years.
“That’s not really for me to decide because from outside, you can judge it better than me,” he said, not smart-alecky but just matter of fact. “Of course, I take it as a job responsibility, I have been given the responsibility and I try to fulfil it to the best potential that I have got. As an individual, you will make mistakes and as a captain, I feel it is very important that if you commit a mistake, you go out there and admit it. It won’t always go your way. The captain decides on something but it is somebody else who has to fulfil the job. Ultimately, it depends on the person and how he responds to the situation. You try to be honest to yourself, you read the game and decide something. If it doesn’t work, you stand up and take the responsibility because that’s what your job needs you to do.”
Dhoni has alternately been celebrated and eulogised, and castigated and pilloried, depending on results. He has taken the rough with the smooth, grateful for the genuine fan’s support but not unduly perturbed by the fickle fan’s result-oriented reaction. It was no surprise, consequently, to hear his response when he was asked what his message was to the nation on the eve of the final. “We don’t want to send out any message only before the final,” he offered. “Whatever we feel towards the fans, whatever is there in our hearts for them, it is there throughout the year, not just before the final.”
Dhoni, the captain – now he is no man of fickle moods. After a fierce battle in the group stages, India, West Indies, Sri Lanka and South Africa have made it to the World T20 semi-finals. It's been a thrilling tournament so far and the group stages provided some breathtaking moments. Here are the top five moments of the group stage. Dale Steyn of South Africa celebrates running out Ross Taylor of New Zealand to win the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 match between New Zealand and South Africa. Getty Images Dale Steyn of South Africa celebrates running out Ross Taylor of New Zealand to win the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 match between New Zealand and South Africa. Getty Images 1)Last over Steyn heroics: We've seen batsmen wallop over 20 runs in the last over on consistent basis to win a T20 match but to defend less than 10 runs in the final over is an achievement in itself. There is one bowler who is not short on cricketing achievements and against New Zealand Dale Steyn just showed why he is one of the best bowlers in all the three formats. In a fiery spell of fast bowling, the champion bowler defended seven runs off the last over to help South Africa steal victory from the hands of defeat. He started off by scalping Luke Ronchi (caught behind) with an away swinger, followed it up with two dot balls to Nathan McCullum. But the Kiwi responded with a boundary off the fourth ball. With three runs needed off last two balls, the pacer removed McCullum. A splendid fast full delivery, outside the off-stump made sure that a set Ross Taylor had no option but jam the last ball back to Steyn. The fast bowler ran to the non-striker's stumps and hammered the led-stumps before setting off in wild celebrations. Five dot balls in the final over was just staggering. West Indies' players pounce on captain Darren Sammy, second right, to celebrate their win over Australia. AP West Indies' players pounce on captain Darren Sammy, second right, to celebrate their win over Australia. AP 2) Sammy answers Faulkner in style: It's hard to imagine the top five moments without a West Indian featuring in it. The Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur witnessed a special moment as Darren Sammy hit two consecutive sixes with 12 needed to win off the last over and set off in wild celebrations. Chasing a daunting target of 179, West Indies were in a spot of bother when Sammy strode out to the crease. With the men from the Caribbean needing 49 off 21 balls, Sammy blasted 34 off 13 balls to pull off their highest successful run chase in T20Is. Earlier, Australia's James Faulkner had fired up the Windies saying that he didn't particularly like West Indies. Sammy replied in great style as he blasted consecutive sixes off Faulkner to score 12 runs needed off the final over. Alex Hales of England celebrates hitting the winning runs during the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 match between England and Sri Lanka. Getty Images Alex Hales of England celebrates hitting the winning runs during the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 match between England and Sri Lanka. Getty Images 3) Hales-storm blows away Sri Lanka: It's not often that batsmen hit centuries in T20Is. Alex Hales was the number one T20I player for a long time and he just proved why he was special in this format as he played one of the best innings in T20I history. Hales simply went berserk to help England chase down 190, their highest ever successful run chase in T20Is. What made the innings more special was the fact that England were reeling at 0/2 after losing Michael Lumb and Moeen Ali in the first over and Hales batted through and finished the match in style with a thunderous six. Hales just murdered the Sri Lankan spinners during the course of his 116* (64 balls, 11 fours, 6 sixes) to single-handedly win the match for England. Nethersland players celebrates after running out Tim Bresnan of England during the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 match between England and the Netherlands. Getty Images Nethersland players celebrates after running out Tim Bresnan of England during the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 match between England and the Netherlands. Getty Images 4) Netherlands beat England: Whenever a weak team defeats a strong one, there is a sense of joy that every cricket fan experiences. Netherlands provided one of those moments in the World T20 as they shocked England in their last match in the tournament. The Dutch team had a roller-coaster ride in the tournament. Earlier in the qualifiers, they had pulled off a miracle chase against Ireland chasing down 190 inside 14 overs to qualify for the group stages. But in their first group stage game, they were humiliated by Sri Lanka as they were bowled out for 39. However, they bounced back well to give South Africa a scare before making sure that they signed off with pride... beating England by a big margin of 45 runs, defending a meager total of 133. Rangana Herath of Sri Lanka celebrates dismissing Luke Ronchi of New Zealand during the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Getty Images Rangana Herath of Sri Lanka celebrates dismissing Luke Ronchi of New Zealand during the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Getty Images 5) Herath's magical 5/3 Kiwi killer: In their last do-or-die group match, when Sri Lanka were bundled out for just 119, it looked as if their blistering run of qualifying for the semis of the ICC events would be over. But Rangana Herath proved to be their saviour as he bowled one of the best spells in the history of T20Is. He ripped through the New Zealand top and middle order with consummate ease, bundling them out for just 60. His 5/3 set the record for the most economical spell in T20Is and helped Sri Lanka qualify for the semi-final of an ICC event for the 6th successive time. The wily left-arm spinner hadn't played a T20I since October 2012 and he proved the selectors wrong, showing why he was Sri Lanka's best spinner in all the three formats.
For the most part, however closely you scrutinise Dhoni’s face, if you didn’t know the match situation, you wouldn’t ever guess if his team was winning or losing. An emotional, hand-waving, finger-pointing captain can sometimes rouse his troops into action but he can also end up sending the wrong signals. With Dhoni, all you get is a sense of calmness. In any team sport, the players that make up the team take their cue from the leader; India’s unflappable approach on the cricket field generally, Virat Kohli’s occasional bursts of aggression notwithstanding, stems from the manner in which Dhoni conducts himself, his serenity extending from the centre outwards and engulfing even the men in the outfield.
By his own admission, Dhoni wasn’t always so. He had his fair share mood swings during his younger days, but with the passage of time and with responsibilities being heaped on his shoulders, Dhoni has come to embrace the monk-like face of the Indian cricket team.
“I don’t think I was calm from my childhood,” Dhoni was candid enough to admit on Saturday (April 5), unfazed, though the title clash in the ICC World Twenty20 2014 against Sri Lanka was a little over 24 hours away. “I’m someone who doesn’t like losing much. When I was young, I had trouble controlling the emotions associated with getting defeated. Over a period of time, I have learnt how to control this emotion. I’m a believer in the fact that your emotions are yours alone and hence you should be the one who knows how to control it. Over time, I found dealing with emotions easier. I feel it is important because in a game, there are so many stages where you don’t want to take a decision emotionally. Practically, you decide what’s the best option.”
It sounds pretty simple, but it’s in the conquest of the mind that the genesis of Dhoni’s success story lies. India’s most successful captain is a solitary win away from becoming the first international skipper to lead his side to the grand ICC treble – the 50-over World Cup, the Champions Trophy and the World T20.
“For us, what is important is doing well in the final. The other factors we don’t really focus on, because it is more important to win a World cup for your country than focus on stats,” he said, offering gently to deflect any extraneous pressure that might be brought to bear upon his team, even if pressure is something that has accompanied him from the time he was made the captain of the T20 International team at the first World T20 in South Africa in 2007.
“I leave it (the pressure) at the stadium because that’s the best thing I can do,” he added with that unique simplification technique that he has mastered. “Over the years that I have been the captain, I have seen almost everything. There is nothing really that I have not seen in cricket. We have seen Indian cricket perform at its best and, at the same time, we had to go through a lean patch where we had really tough times. Controversies are a big part of Indian cricket and I have been through all it. There’s hardly anything good or bad in Indian cricket that happens without my name (being linked to it).
“We have to go through everything but the good thing is we have to concentrate more on the process. I know there are certain things that are in my control. I look to move in that direction rather than thinking or living a thought that’s beyond my control and that has really helped me. It’s been an interesting time, ups and downs. That’s what it is all about in international sport, it doesn’t matter which game you are playing. It has taught me a lot and it’s still a learning curve for me. Hopefully, it will teach me many more things in my life after cricket.”
Dhoni has been accused of being a defensive Test captain who is totally at home attacking only in the limited-overs versions. On Saturday, somebody extended that theme to ask him if he captained differently in ICC tournaments. “Not really,” he replied, at once amused and taken aback by the question. “I think the players have responded really well. If you talk about this tournament, our spinners have come into action. They got a bit of purchase off the wicket and they made sure that they capitalised on that. That’s what team environment is all about. When the fast bowlers have conditions that are in favour of them, then they have to deliver and when it is not in favour of them, when you are playing on flat wickets with a bit of turn, then the spinners have to come into action. Overall, it is a perfect team environment where when we need somebody to do the job, there have been individuals who have risen to the occasion and said I will be the person who will take the responsibility.”
In 2007, Dhoni was a greenhorn when it came to captaincy, shepherding a young side to an unexpected title run. Since then, he has grown into the role and grown in stature. His CV includes a 50-over World Cup crown, the No. 1 Test ranking and the Champions Trophy, among other things. Understandably, though, Dhoni was coy about discussing his leadership approach, and whether that has changed in the last six-and-a-half years.
“That’s not really for me to decide because from outside, you can judge it better than me,” he said, not smart-alecky but just matter of fact. “Of course, I take it as a job responsibility, I have been given the responsibility and I try to fulfil it to the best potential that I have got. As an individual, you will make mistakes and as a captain, I feel it is very important that if you commit a mistake, you go out there and admit it. It won’t always go your way. The captain decides on something but it is somebody else who has to fulfil the job. Ultimately, it depends on the person and how he responds to the situation. You try to be honest to yourself, you read the game and decide something. If it doesn’t work, you stand up and take the responsibility because that’s what your job needs you to do.”
Dhoni has alternately been celebrated and eulogised, and castigated and pilloried, depending on results. He has taken the rough with the smooth, grateful for the genuine fan’s support but not unduly perturbed by the fickle fan’s result-oriented reaction. It was no surprise, consequently, to hear his response when he was asked what his message was to the nation on the eve of the final. “We don’t want to send out any message only before the final,” he offered. “Whatever we feel towards the fans, whatever is there in our hearts for them, it is there throughout the year, not just before the final.”
Dhoni, the captain – now he is no man of fickle moods. After a fierce battle in the group stages, India, West Indies, Sri Lanka and South Africa have made it to the World T20 semi-finals. It's been a thrilling tournament so far and the group stages provided some breathtaking moments. Here are the top five moments of the group stage. Dale Steyn of South Africa celebrates running out Ross Taylor of New Zealand to win the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 match between New Zealand and South Africa. Getty Images Dale Steyn of South Africa celebrates running out Ross Taylor of New Zealand to win the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 match between New Zealand and South Africa. Getty Images 1)Last over Steyn heroics: We've seen batsmen wallop over 20 runs in the last over on consistent basis to win a T20 match but to defend less than 10 runs in the final over is an achievement in itself. There is one bowler who is not short on cricketing achievements and against New Zealand Dale Steyn just showed why he is one of the best bowlers in all the three formats. In a fiery spell of fast bowling, the champion bowler defended seven runs off the last over to help South Africa steal victory from the hands of defeat. He started off by scalping Luke Ronchi (caught behind) with an away swinger, followed it up with two dot balls to Nathan McCullum. But the Kiwi responded with a boundary off the fourth ball. With three runs needed off last two balls, the pacer removed McCullum. A splendid fast full delivery, outside the off-stump made sure that a set Ross Taylor had no option but jam the last ball back to Steyn. The fast bowler ran to the non-striker's stumps and hammered the led-stumps before setting off in wild celebrations. Five dot balls in the final over was just staggering. West Indies' players pounce on captain Darren Sammy, second right, to celebrate their win over Australia. AP West Indies' players pounce on captain Darren Sammy, second right, to celebrate their win over Australia. AP 2) Sammy answers Faulkner in style: It's hard to imagine the top five moments without a West Indian featuring in it. The Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur witnessed a special moment as Darren Sammy hit two consecutive sixes with 12 needed to win off the last over and set off in wild celebrations. Chasing a daunting target of 179, West Indies were in a spot of bother when Sammy strode out to the crease. With the men from the Caribbean needing 49 off 21 balls, Sammy blasted 34 off 13 balls to pull off their highest successful run chase in T20Is. Earlier, Australia's James Faulkner had fired up the Windies saying that he didn't particularly like West Indies. Sammy replied in great style as he blasted consecutive sixes off Faulkner to score 12 runs needed off the final over. Alex Hales of England celebrates hitting the winning runs during the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 match between England and Sri Lanka. Getty Images Alex Hales of England celebrates hitting the winning runs during the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 match between England and Sri Lanka. Getty Images 3) Hales-storm blows away Sri Lanka: It's not often that batsmen hit centuries in T20Is. Alex Hales was the number one T20I player for a long time and he just proved why he was special in this format as he played one of the best innings in T20I history. Hales simply went berserk to help England chase down 190, their highest ever successful run chase in T20Is. What made the innings more special was the fact that England were reeling at 0/2 after losing Michael Lumb and Moeen Ali in the first over and Hales batted through and finished the match in style with a thunderous six. Hales just murdered the Sri Lankan spinners during the course of his 116* (64 balls, 11 fours, 6 sixes) to single-handedly win the match for England. Nethersland players celebrates after running out Tim Bresnan of England during the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 match between England and the Netherlands. Getty Images Nethersland players celebrates after running out Tim Bresnan of England during the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 match between England and the Netherlands. Getty Images 4) Netherlands beat England: Whenever a weak team defeats a strong one, there is a sense of joy that every cricket fan experiences. Netherlands provided one of those moments in the World T20 as they shocked England in their last match in the tournament. The Dutch team had a roller-coaster ride in the tournament. Earlier in the qualifiers, they had pulled off a miracle chase against Ireland chasing down 190 inside 14 overs to qualify for the group stages. But in their first group stage game, they were humiliated by Sri Lanka as they were bowled out for 39. However, they bounced back well to give South Africa a scare before making sure that they signed off with pride... beating England by a big margin of 45 runs, defending a meager total of 133. Rangana Herath of Sri Lanka celebrates dismissing Luke Ronchi of New Zealand during the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Getty Images Rangana Herath of Sri Lanka celebrates dismissing Luke Ronchi of New Zealand during the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Getty Images 5) Herath's magical 5/3 Kiwi killer: In their last do-or-die group match, when Sri Lanka were bundled out for just 119, it looked as if their blistering run of qualifying for the semis of the ICC events would be over. But Rangana Herath proved to be their saviour as he bowled one of the best spells in the history of T20Is. He ripped through the New Zealand top and middle order with consummate ease, bundling them out for just 60. His 5/3 set the record for the most economical spell in T20Is and helped Sri Lanka qualify for the semi-final of an ICC event for the 6th successive time. The wily left-arm spinner hadn't played a T20I since October 2012 and he proved the selectors wrong, showing why he was Sri Lanka's best spinner in all the three formats.
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