By Gaurang
July 12 2013

You just can't keep this man down.  He was supposed to be injured, and out of this series as well as the series in Zimbabwe, but instead he returned half fit to drag India home and add more sivlerware to his overflowing cupboard.

The Indian team, ever since the IPL row broke, has been a changed unit.  There has been tremendous camaradarie and team spirits appear to be sky high.  This reached another level when an injured Mahendra Singh Dhoni, summoned up the will to play even though clearly not 100% fit, to lead India to yet another triumph in the ODI arena.

Admittedly the Tri-series was not half as important as the Champions Trophy, yet teams that develop the winning habit, don't like to lose out no matter how big or small the occassion.  And after the way Virat Kohli and the boys fought back from the brink of elimination to end up top of the league table, it was fitting that the man Kohli was standing in for, should want to make a contribution.

In the end Dhoni played a vintage Dhoni knock, transferring the pressure to the bowler and fielding side, like only he can in close contests.  And though he does not always succeed in such situations, afterall he is only human, he succeeds a lot more than one would based simply on luck or chance.  Dhoni relishes these close scraps and thrives in the pressure cooker atmosphere that most batsmen and particularly batsmen who are also leading the side would like to avoid as much as possible.

Some uncharitable folks may say his return to the team for the final was to ensure that a stand-in captain did not usurp his crown, albeit temporarly and with a much lower caliber win than the ICC Champions Trophy.  But if you looked at the cohesion and teamwork of the Indian side, this is quite clearly a canard and it is pretty obvious that none was happier that Dhoni was back leading the side than his erstwhile deputy Kohli.

Now Dhoni can take a well earned break, and use the time off to recoup from injury and recharge... though paraphrasing the song from that frothy little comedy "Mere Dad ki Maruti"... "Rajputo ki battery charge rehendi hain."

Dhoni Returns To Claim Another Cup

Discussion started by Indian Cricket Fever (IP Logged), 12/07/2013 03:32

Indian Cricket Fever
12/07/2013 03:32

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:08:02:21:39:43 by Birbal.

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Birbal
12/07/2013 16:46

India are proving that the younger generation has not been spoiled by IPL...if anything the fielding standards have improved drastically...and India now not behind 10-15 runs per ODI right out of the starting gate

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Akbar
13/07/2013 21:12

Agreed IPL is having positive impact .
It reminds me of Chess - if you are good at 1 min game,it gets translated into 3 min games,then 10 min games and slowly but surely standard form of the game.
Way to go !

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Akbar
13/07/2013 21:14

Russel Arnold was saying India have lost only 3 games in last 3(or 4 don't remember) years to SL. Out of those 3,Dhoni was absent in 2 games.Surely, SL don't like his presence in Indian team.

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