There was a time when I used to wonder what Ricky Ponting would want to achieve.
After all, he had won the World Cup (including hitting a defining knock in its Final in 2003), been a leader of the undisputed Numero Uno team in Test Cricket, and had also laid his hands on the Twenty20 World Cup.
These World-conquering were things that even an Indian demi-god who had Sachin Ramesh as his first and middle names, had only aspired to achieve, but never could (till then).
However, there was one thing that even Ponting had failed to do: win the Champions Trophy.
Cut to circa 2013:
At the post-match presentation after India won the Champions Trophy, Nasser Hussain asked MSD about what else he thought was left for him to achieve, Dhoni could only smile and offer a platitude about every match being crucial and that his focus was only on the next match that he'd play.
Well, he could surely have answered Nasser's question with Ranji Trophy as his answer!
For, there is now absolutely no world tourney whose trophy does not adorn his cabinet. He has shouldered the onerous task of being the captain of the country where fans are not only the most demanding, most adulatory, and most idolizing, but also the most fickle.
It is no mean feat to achieve World # 1 ranking in Tests, be a World Cup winner in both ODIs and T20, and also be a Champion of Champions, just by itself - simply because no one else (including Ponting) has ever achieved it, with the best of teams too.
Add to this, the fact that he has done so with both experienced personnel (read legends) in his team (WC 2011 and Test # 1), as well as a fledgling, new unit with loads of youngsters (T20 and Champions Trophy).
And then, there is also the small matter of winning the IPL as well as the Champions League trophies too.
Oh, and before I forget, the guy bats and keeps too, with aplomb and adeptness.
Sure, he is not perfect, has his weaknesses (defensive captaincy in Tests, not as dangerous a batsman outside of the subcontinent against quality attacks) but then who ever was or will be?!
The ever-loyal, enthusiastic and passionate Indian cricket fan has had a tough time of late - on the field due to the 0-8 drubbings in England and Australia, and even worse, losing the Test series to England on home soil, and off-field due to the IPL and fixing shenanigans.
This win is all the more special, therefore, in that it might be some sort of a salve for the disillusioned fans who have had little to celebrate
Hopefully, the good times are here to stay now, much longer than ever before...Three Cheers MS, India, and Indian cricket! More power to thee!!!
After all, he had won the World Cup (including hitting a defining knock in its Final in 2003), been a leader of the undisputed Numero Uno team in Test Cricket, and had also laid his hands on the Twenty20 World Cup.
These World-conquering were things that even an Indian demi-god who had Sachin Ramesh as his first and middle names, had only aspired to achieve, but never could (till then).
However, there was one thing that even Ponting had failed to do: win the Champions Trophy.
Cut to circa 2013:
 |
| Happy Days are here again! (Pic Courtesy: Cricinfo) |
At the post-match presentation after India won the Champions Trophy, Nasser Hussain asked MSD about what else he thought was left for him to achieve, Dhoni could only smile and offer a platitude about every match being crucial and that his focus was only on the next match that he'd play.
Well, he could surely have answered Nasser's question with Ranji Trophy as his answer!
For, there is now absolutely no world tourney whose trophy does not adorn his cabinet. He has shouldered the onerous task of being the captain of the country where fans are not only the most demanding, most adulatory, and most idolizing, but also the most fickle.
It is no mean feat to achieve World # 1 ranking in Tests, be a World Cup winner in both ODIs and T20, and also be a Champion of Champions, just by itself - simply because no one else (including Ponting) has ever achieved it, with the best of teams too.
Add to this, the fact that he has done so with both experienced personnel (read legends) in his team (WC 2011 and Test # 1), as well as a fledgling, new unit with loads of youngsters (T20 and Champions Trophy).
And then, there is also the small matter of winning the IPL as well as the Champions League trophies too.
Oh, and before I forget, the guy bats and keeps too, with aplomb and adeptness.
Sure, he is not perfect, has his weaknesses (defensive captaincy in Tests, not as dangerous a batsman outside of the subcontinent against quality attacks) but then who ever was or will be?!
The ever-loyal, enthusiastic and passionate Indian cricket fan has had a tough time of late - on the field due to the 0-8 drubbings in England and Australia, and even worse, losing the Test series to England on home soil, and off-field due to the IPL and fixing shenanigans.
This win is all the more special, therefore, in that it might be some sort of a salve for the disillusioned fans who have had little to celebrate
Hopefully, the good times are here to stay now, much longer than ever before...Three Cheers MS, India, and Indian cricket! More power to thee!!!
