From one MSD to another: Hello Mahendra Singh Dhoni, this is Mister Shailesh Dhaundiyal (MSD) here.
For long, I have marvelled at your equanimity and your poise amidst all your enviable achievements. And, I am sure I am only one among billions of others who must be thinking likewise. As you announced your retirement, I just wanted to take some time to pay my tribute and acknowledgements to you by just recollecting all the memories I have of you, that I will treasure forever.
There have been countless times when I have wondered how tough it must be to be you, with all the adulation and brickbats coming in non-stop. To remain calm and grounded in the midst of such frenzied (both - positive and negative) reactions in a country like India is, in itself, a superhuman thing. But let's begin from the very beginning.
1) Even the impossible is possible
You rose from humble beginnings from a non-cricketing state and never lost sight of your dream. Not even when you were trying to stay afloat in your cricketing career while checking tickets as a ticket collector in the Railways. This is already enough testament to inspire anyone to never quit believing in oneself.
If Narendra Modi has famously inspired Indians that even a 'chaiwala' can rise to the highest political office and become a Prime Minister, you have done likewise for sport in general (and cricket, in particular). You showed that talent, perseverance and belief can make even the unthinkable possible. Your story has helped make people believe that even the impossible is possible.
2) Never lose focus, never give up
After making it to the national team (or even the India A team) and especially considering your humble background, you could have easily slipped into a comfort zone where a cushy domestic career as a cricketer could have earned you enough (certainly much more than in your erstwhile Railways job) to lead a comfortable life even as a domestic cricketer for Jharkhand or Railways, and most definitely as an ex-India (or even as an ex-India A) player. But, you never rested on your laurels. In fact, we have often seen countless talented cricketers going astray or not being able to maximise their potential only because they lost focus or did things only because others (especially the big city boys, fond of the good life) were doing. Again, as someone hailing from a little-known, non-Metro city, you could have easily taken the bait. But you didn't/ And, thank God for that!
3) Selfless
Perhaps one of the most touching aspects of your personality is your selfless attitude and your self-effacing nature. It is no secret that during moments of glory, you have redefined the template of captaincy by letting others take the limelight. You were happy to just receive any tournament's trophy (in fact, it seems if you were to have your way, you might allow the Man of the match or Man of the Series or the junior-most member of the team or anyone else to collect it) and just step aside.
Often, captains are easy to spot after a presentation - right at the center. You were no different: you were easy to spot too. Right at the far-end, one corner or another, surely in the background. Thank you for not just defining but also exhibiting and living like how a true leader should.
4) Fearless
From audacious strokes to bold and unconventional captaincy tactics (though perhaps not as much in Tests!), you always did what your heart said. It did not matter if it had been done or not done before. If it made sense to you, you did it. Be it your trademark helicopter shot or your unique ways of collecting the ball to catch the batsmen unawares or your cool swagger in taking the game deep and often emerging as the ultimate finisher, backing your instincts with batting/bowling choices and field placements, you never let go of your cricketing acumen. A huge reason why India reached the pinnacle in every form of the game under you - No. 1 in Tests and World Cup winners in ODIs and T20, besides beating Australia in Australia (ODIs) and winning the Champions Trophy (oh, and although this is not national colors but still, as best as international level - in multiple IPL triumphs) - these are achievements one can only dream about. You achieved them all and achieved them thanks to all these qualities of cricketing skill, tactical astuteness, focus, leadership, self belief, selflessness and fearlessness.
5) Equanimity
Your calm mind and match reading have now attained cult status. We have run out of instances and adjectives that describe how well you read and reacted during any (many) critical situation(s). Again, for most captains, all the calm and equanimity is only a means to an end. But for you, it is how you are and who you are. For, if it were not so, you would finally let your emotions roll unbridled after having achieved a win. But no, even after that, you would stay your usual self, poker faced, be it victory or defeat! In fact, it is a great exercise to observe you walking back after a win as well as after a loss, and if one can mask the scores or commentary that gives away the result or the expressions of your teammates around you, and then watches you going about your business, one would find you look the same, both in victory and in defeat. You could have walking back after a 100 or after 0, or after a win or a loss, and one would often struggle to spot a change in your deportment/
Thank you, MSD for not just entertaining us and giving us some of our most cherished moments as cricket lovers, but also for exemplifying some of the best qualities in life. You are not just a legend, you are a role model too. Not just for cricket, not just for captaincy, but also for life.
Thanks for the wishes, champion and wish you the very best forever!
(Oh, and of course, can't wait to keep watching you in at least the yellow jersey for now!) :)
