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MS Dhoni: The Complete Captain
By Flamy July 11 2008
Dhoni has had a dream start to his captaincy winning some very important tours and elevating India to the cream of the cricketing fraternity. It says something about a man when he goes out to play every game to win and keep the trust of a billion people on his shoulders. But, that is only just the beginning.
Different people have opined about his ability to keep his cool in pressure-cooker situations and coming out trumps. He has the uncanny ability to inspire not just his countrymen, but also a motley crew of cricketers as witnessed in the IPL. He is a true leader of men and he compounds this natural ability with excellent cricketing acumen pulling out some curious plays that has us fans analysing his motives. 

However the finals of the Asia Cup saw yet another impressive side of our captain. True character and adversity and all that, he has kept his head high after the loss and there was no reason to feel ashamed. This is why we love sport. There is always the chance of one moment making a difference. And that moment came when Sri Lanka made the decision of hiding Mendis from India till the finals came.

The beauty and uncertainty of facing an unorthodox bowler such as Mendis is what makes cricket exciting for fans of the sport. Cricket is a team sport where one person can win a game for the team. Today, India were bamboozled by the Mendis Menace. It was India vs Mendis.


And as much as it hurts us, it was heartening to see Dhoni look at the lighter side of things and banter with Mendis and the other Sri Lankans at the end-of-the-match handshakes.

Dhoni doesn't mince words at the presentation ceremony when he says Mendis was the difference and that each and every Indian batter was flabbergasted by Mendis' brilliance. The one person that made the difference. And no one had an answer.

And no one will know this better than the Sri Lankan camp when they look at a certain Mahenda Singh Dhoni. They will recall now, with a wry smile the 183* that another untested player just making his way into world cricket announced his arrival on the world stage with. Much like Mendis put himself on the world cricket map today.

It was tables turned by Sri Lanka. One surpise for another. Touche! and well done Lankans!   

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Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: anu_D (IP Logged)
Date: 06/07/2008 18:58

Ganguly's 87 on a minefield won him a test match and Tendulkar's back-to-back 100s the finals in Aus...other than that the notionally complete b captain has nothing to show for his greatness.


I think he is clever.....but fickle like Chappell...experiments too much...gets too cute too often

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: Indian Well Wisher (IP Logged)
Date: 06/07/2008 19:04

^Hmm, and I though a captain's main job is to inspire his troops to great deeds...

and MSD did inspire Gangu and Tendu to play out of their skins and perform the feets that they had never done(Sm100)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:07:06:19:05:04 by Indian Well Wisher.

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: anu_D (IP Logged)
Date: 06/07/2008 19:07

^ Let him inspire "his team" and win it without them

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: anu_D (IP Logged)
Date: 06/07/2008 19:08

actually in this Asia cup all that he won was a half-useless match when SL rested their top 2 bolwers

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: thirdman (IP Logged)
Date: 06/07/2008 19:30

Quote:
anu_D
actually in this Asia cup all that he won was a half-useless match when SL rested their top 2 bolwers

Wow, you have no mercy do you ? When you start off on someone its death by a 1000 cuts... wow, I feel sorry for you husband !

Pls give him our sympathies.

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: Indian Well Wisher (IP Logged)
Date: 06/07/2008 19:34

Quote:
anu_D
^ Let him inspire "his team" and win it without them

Tendu is very much a part of Dhoni's team, will be back to ODIs once fit, so no worries on him..

For Gangu, while he is not deemed fit enuf for ODI by dhoni on account of his poor fielding, running between wickets and slow batting, he is still very much in scheme of tests as & when Dhoni takes over test captaincy..so Dhoni will keep inspiring Gangu as well in the future..

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: Bucknor the Great (IP Logged)
Date: 06/07/2008 19:42

blind love for ganguly inspires anu_d to hate Chappel/Dravid/Dhoni/<any captain of India who doesnt select Ganguly in his squad>

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: thirdman (IP Logged)
Date: 06/07/2008 20:50

Quote:
Bucknor the Great
blind love for ganguly inspires anu_d to hate Chappel/Dravid/Dhoni/<any captain of India who doesnt select Ganguly in his squad>

Aah ! A passionate lover ...so her hubby does have something going for him after all.

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: anu_D (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 04:32

Quote:
Indian Well Wisher
Quote:
anu_D
^ Let him inspire "his team" and win it without them

Tendu is very much a part of Dhoni's team, will be back to ODIs once fit, so no worries on him..

==>>OK...if to win he is solely dependent on Tendulkar...Dhoni won't last too long

For Gangu, while he is not deemed fit enuf for ODI by dhoni on account of his poor fielding, running between wickets and slow batting,

==>.That's OK....let Dhoni WIN without Ganguly

he is still very much in when Dhoni takes over test captaincy..so Dhoni will keep inspiring Gangu as well in the future..

==>>When will that WHEN be?......If there ever will be that WHE?

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: flamy (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 07:41

^

When Kumble retires.

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: anu_D (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 08:51

^ Kumble will go on two more years....and two more years....many a mpuntainous changes will take place.

It's NOT a given that Dhoni will captain.


I think his captaincy is good...but his own batting doesn't merit him a place in the test match side.

DK and Parthiv are both better than him

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: flamy (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 10:19

Dhoni is the most reliable batsman in our ODI oufit. I'm sure he will translate that to tests soon.

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: Chorazin Reto (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 10:42

Yah hes ranked like 2nd now on the ICC ODI batting list, behind Smith and in front of Ponting.

[aus.cricinfo.com]

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: SD (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 13:55

The utterance of a completely clueless captain. Some of his words are quite laughable. Especially the one "I won't really blame the batsman, we couldn't pick the deliveries." Who is responsible for picking the deliveries?

Dhoni, whose innings stood out for its sensible approach, was mesmerised even at the press-conference. For every question demanding explanations for the defeat, he ahd the same answer: Mendis.

"Most of our batsmen couldn't pick him," Dhoni said. "We had never played him before. We had only seen videos and you can visualise and all, but he was difficult to pick out there in the middle. We never had any real reply against him."

Why did they make the defensive move of playing an extra batsman? "The main reason to add one batsman was Mendis," Dhoni said. "Our bowlers did well to restrict them to 273, and Mendis bowled well and that was the reason we lost.

"It was like you were playing something else, and the ball was something else. I won't really blame the batsman, we couldn't pick the deliveries. If you see our bowling, it was the best bowling line-up we could offer when we wanted one more extra batsman in the side. They tried their best and we could have got 274 but for the Mendis factor."

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: amit (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 15:20

i think anu_d is dona & her husband is ganguly himself

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 15:21

Quote:
"It was like you were playing something else, and the ball was something else.

This is AWESOME... I am all for bowlers BAMBOOZLING batsmen...

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: anu_D (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 15:53

Quote:
flamy
Dhoni is the most reliable batsman in our ODI oufit. I'm sure he will translate that to tests soon.

==>>Hmmm he averaged 13 in 8 innings in Australia...that is his true standing.

You add his daylight bashing on flat-tracks...and his average average would be about 27

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: Meet_New_Mr_India (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 16:03

the team is doing very well except for the finals which has been our nemesis.. so Dhoni has brought us back to the level which Ganguly had set and Dravid couldn't maintain.

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: anu_D (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 16:12

^ This team won ONE dead match against Pak in BD when both teams were qualified.....and lost the only REAL match.


In the Asia cupThis team won only one half useless match against SL ( when their top 2 bolwers) were rested...and lost every thing else.

At least let's not fool ourselves with notional achievements

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 16:49

notional achievments in India are NATIONAL achievments...

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: anu_D (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 17:30

we get carried away too much by notional and masala stuff......and can't diffrentiate it with real quality.

Lately test match series in Aus....the finals of CU ODIs against Aus and Kanpur test match have been the worthy national achievements by the cricket team

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: Meet_New_Mr_India (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 17:44

Please refresh my memory - who captained CB ODIs and Kanpur test match??

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: anu_D (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 18:41

^ you completely miss the point....he ( that captian) needed a ganguly or Tendulkar to win his most valuable wins so far.
without eitehr....he finishes 2nd in 2 nations tournaments against B-Grade sides(Sm100)

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: Meet_New_Mr_India (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 18:48

isn't is same as ganguly needing in-form sehwag, dravid, tenud and laxman to achieve what he has achieved??

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: anu_D (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 19:00

Ganguly made Sehwag, Yuv, Kaif into stars and Dravid and VVSL into a superstar......none of them were anywhere close to the levels before ( or even) after Ganguly.

Dhoni is relying upon established old and fading stars to give him his two most significant wins CU in Aus and Cawnpore Test

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: Meet_New_Mr_India (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 19:03

so they had no potential??

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: anu_D (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 19:09

^ Who

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: thirdman (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 19:10

Quote:
Birbal
notional achievments in India are NATIONAL achievments...

Wah ! Wah !
Wah ! Wah !

Now I've got to look up te dictionary...

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: Meet_New_Mr_India (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 20:12

the ones u mentioned..

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: Anil (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 22:17

Not a complete captain yet, but no doubt that he's the best choice at this time given the exit, or impending exit, of the seniors. A lot of international ex-cricketers give him high praise for his performance and constant improvement as captain and player.

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: Bucknor the Great (IP Logged)
Date: 07/07/2008 23:56

lets just ignore the Pak vs Ind game.

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: Max (IP Logged)
Date: 08/07/2008 05:05

Yes he is a good leader. But still has a lot to learn.

_______________________

India's Test record against Australia over last 12 years:

Played 26, Won 10, Lost 10, Drawn 6

Re: MSD: Complete Captain
Posted by: kappax (IP Logged)
Date: 08/07/2008 22:26

Yeah dunno why Ind chose to chase in finals again... I know chasing teams were winningin Asia cup, so it was a 50-50 decision...

but the guy is well rounded now.. can play as per the situation and would have been ideal to have given the Test cappo to him but then he could never have got a break..

so this is nthe only option for break before the Test cappos also comes his way...

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 11/07/2008 17:23

Flamy I've converted your OP into another article...

Keep 'em coming...smiling smiley

_____

ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...

BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: flamy (IP Logged)
Date: 11/07/2008 18:40

Thanks man smiling smiley

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: anu_D (IP Logged)
Date: 11/07/2008 19:30

Hmm...one who doesn't captain test matches can never be a complete captain

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 11/07/2008 19:33

His time will come...

India is following the Aussie strategy...Ponting was ODI captain for a year or so before taking over the Tests...

_____

ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...

BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: anu_D (IP Logged)
Date: 11/07/2008 19:46

Small difference between the two

Ponting was the best batsman in the team......Dhoni doesn't find a spot in the team on merit

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 11/07/2008 19:47

Dhoni is India's BEST keeper...and he is good enough as a Batsman...and leader...

He finds a place in the team...

Btw, he has already captained in Tests...smiling smiley

_____

ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...

BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: anu_D (IP Logged)
Date: 11/07/2008 19:49

^ OK...please save this post before SN deletes them...and let's review in 3 months and 6 months time.

PS* I suspect you are merely responding to bump this thread...as it is a cover story smiling smiley

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 11/07/2008 19:53

OK...whatever you say...

But don't think Dhoni will become permanent Test captain till Kumble quits...

_____

ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...

BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: anu_D (IP Logged)
Date: 11/07/2008 19:56

^ Dhoni will NEVER become test captain.

signed/-

a_D 10:57pm Kuwait Time, Jul 11th 2008

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 11/07/2008 20:00

OK fine...but I should warn you ...tapss once bet me on Dravid improving on Ganguly's Test captaincy record...and he lost big time...he has rarely come around since that time...smiling smiley

_____

ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...

BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:07:11:20:00:37 by Birbal.

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: chat.rana (IP Logged)
Date: 12/07/2008 16:35

Anu_D says:
Ganguly made Sehwag, Yuv, Kaif into stars and Dravid and VVSL into a superstar......none of them were anywhere close to the levels before ( or even) after Ganguly.
..........................................
What a joke!
Ganguly certainly was a great captain. But the idea that he made these players in to stars is a joke. It is in fact an insult to these players. These are all hugely talented players, and they made their own fame.
Dhoni too is a great captain. Right now, he is a far better captain than Ganguly. Ganguly years ago was probably a better captain than Dhoni now. But then, Dhoni has a long way to go before he reaches his potential as a captain.

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: flamy (IP Logged)
Date: 27/08/2008 17:43

See guys?? This is the reason I said he was the complete captain. After the heartbreaking loss in Asia Cup, after all we dominated the tournament, due to a complete surprise factor in Mendis (as someone earlier in this thread points out the press conference where Dhoni singles out Mendis), he has made amends.

What I noticed that day was MSD's body language after the match. He completely accepted the defeat and conceded it to the one factor: Mendis. He did not sulk in self-ignominy. He took it lightly and made jokey gestures (Mendis finger flicks) with the Sri Lankan camp while shaking hands with them.

Attitude and self-belief can take you far.

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: tapss (IP Logged)
Date: 27/08/2008 17:47

"tapss once bet me on Dravid improving on Ganguly's Test captaincy record...and he lost big time...he has rarely come around since that time..."

Wrong. i bet that Ind would WIN with Ganguly or something along that line and you bet against that..dont think I lost that one..There is ambiguity on the end result..[:wor kid:]

Im just not arond as haven't got time to look at this site in a while. Guess I was pleasantly surprised to see my name when I popped in..Ateast Gaurang remembers mesmiling smiley

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: thirdman (IP Logged)
Date: 27/08/2008 18:51

Dhoni always finds a way of getting it done.

He seems to be virtually carrying the team on his back with his keeping and batting.

Is he the winningest captain in ODI's for India now ?

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 28/08/2008 01:45

No not really...he is far from the winningest...

He has won 19 out of 35 matches so far...

He has a ways to go... but his win percentage is now above 50% which it was not after the Asia Cup...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:08:28:01:49:01 by Birbal.

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: Max (IP Logged)
Date: 28/08/2008 03:17

The key to Dhoni's ODI captaincy success is his immense personal contribution. He has consistently delivered with the bat and that is a huge influence on his team. However in Tests, Dhoni is still not a proven performer, and IMO the selectors should not rush into making him the Test captain, based on ODI success. But then again if they decide to do so, nobody can complain.

_______________________

India's Test record against Australia over last 12 years:

Played 26, Won 10, Lost 10, Drawn 6

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: Gabbar (IP Logged)
Date: 28/08/2008 15:59

Why shouldn't he captain test Max? His wicket keeping alone should make him permanent feature over likes of karthik and parthiv who are inconsistent behind the sticks - and his batting may not be consistent in test - but even then his innings have been important - his clumsy but important innings saved our butt in england that enable us to win overseas series for first time in many years - even in aus - when he was having a bad time - the test that we won - his scratchy innings of 39 or so and important stand with laxman - was also instrumental - among many other things - for our victory

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. Abraham Lincoln

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 28/08/2008 17:59

OK here is the bet...

Author: Birbal
Date: 23-09-05 23:25

OK so here is the final BET...

Taps bets that under Chappell and without Ganguly as Captain India will WIN 60% of the multi-team ODIs it enters...AND that it will WIN 75% of the overseas Test Series it plays against non-minnows... otherwise he will shut up when I post and silently agree with all I say... and vice versa...

You LOST big time...and slinked away tail between legs...

Accept that much like a man at least...[:wor kid:]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:08:28:18:05:23 by Birbal.

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: Max (IP Logged)
Date: 29/08/2008 08:07

Well Gabbar, like I said, if the selectors do make Dhoni Test captain straightaway, no one can complain. He has done very well as ODI and T20 captain. It is just my opinion that Tests is a different ball game altogether and they should not rush the decision. Just think about why Dhoni even got the T20/ODI captaincy in the first place. It was not for his good wicket-keeping, but his excellent batting. Keeping wickets and captaining in Tests is an extremely difficult task. I don't think anyone has done it for a long-term in Test cricket history. Only those who are capable of holding a position as pure batsman have even attempted it (recent examples Alec Stewart, Andy Flower, etc).

IMO, Dhoni should be capable of holding a specialist batting position in the Test team...only then will it work. In such a case he can when necessary give up the gloves and just play as a batsman. I feel he still needs a year or so of Test match experience to improve his batting, before being considered for Test captaincy.

_______________________

India's Test record against Australia over last 12 years:

Played 26, Won 10, Lost 10, Drawn 6



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:08:29:08:11:38 by Max.

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: kappax (IP Logged)
Date: 29/08/2008 13:30

max,
do u want to discover some more implausible reasons to not give the captaincy to Dhoni...

How about the captain needs to avg above 44+

or captain must be able to open in tests...

PS : IMO there needs only couple of reasons
1. does the cappo deserve a spot in the team in whatever role
2. Does he have the captaincy skills and track record

Dhoni gets High marks on both account...

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: Max (IP Logged)
Date: 29/08/2008 18:24

kappax, I have not "discovered any reasons". I have just stated my opinion on why Dhoni may not be ready for Test captaincy...at least not yet anyway. If you disagree fine, let's leave it at that.

_______________________

India's Test record against Australia over last 12 years:

Played 26, Won 10, Lost 10, Drawn 6

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: thirdman (IP Logged)
Date: 31/08/2008 16:38

Good - not perfect. A perfect captain does not let his team get CRUSHED in epic defeats like in the last ODI vs SL.

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: flamy (IP Logged)
Date: 21/10/2008 07:25

TOLDJA!

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: Gabbar (IP Logged)
Date: 21/10/2008 16:03

dhoni maharaj ki jai ho

I hope max is convincedgrinning smiley

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. Abraham Lincoln

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: flamy (IP Logged)
Date: 10/11/2008 09:28

what'd I say?



MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: Indian Well Wisher (IP Logged)
Date: 10/11/2008 18:56

Quote:
anu_D
^ Dhoni will NEVER become test captain.
signed/-

a_D 10:57pm Kuwait Time, Jul 11th 2008


On the occasion of Dhoni taking over test captaincy & leading India to a test victory over world champs AUS..how does the above "definitive" post look?

Re: MS Dhoni: The Perfect Captain
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 10/11/2008 23:34

Once again Anu_D getting schooled...

Anu_D has had a bad month..

Palin lost...

Dhoni won...

Ganguly retired...

Dravid still in the team...

I am almost feeling a bit sorry for her...sad smiley...


NOT!!!...smiling smiley

_____

ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...

BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....

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