MSD: Maintain Some Discipline

I have often received feedback from some of you (my readers) in my emails that I typically go soft on people/situations. Well, while I agree with a lot of that, as I have replied too, most of my writings typically reflect the type of person I am and I think it can be safely said that I take a lot of time to give a verdict (especially against anyone).

You can interpret my passivity either way - for, it can be interpreted subjectively - could be right or wrong (depending on what you think( but my rationale is that I need loads of incontrovertible evidence to overturn my default theory that people are typically nice and atleast, open to improvement, and also where criticism or pulling them down is not our call since we might not know things well enough.

Let's say, it is like those marginal DRS calls - where a catch might ostensibly be taken/claimed as the umpire might deem it not out (if not sure). This means the soft signal is Not Out, and the third umpire would need incontrovertible evidence to then overturn that default decision, which means that even in a 50-50 case, the default shall prevail and the batsmen would be counted not out, unless decisively proven otherwise. Likewise for my approach in life, with my soft signal being not wrong unless there is enough evidence to overturn my view.

Okay, that aside, I must also make one more thing amply clear: I have always been a huge MSD fan, as you can also see by the number of times and the types of things I have covered on him within this blog too. To say that he has been among the most iconic and successful Indian captains (and cricketers) ever - heck, he would even feature in an all-time most successful list of cricketers/captains the world has ever seen - would be an understatement!

However, some things have truly hurt and disappointed me as his fan and as someone who would love to speak of him as an idol, worth emulating and learning from.

For long, people have admired most for his equanimity and equilibrium, even more than his cricketing acumen or his brilliant batting or his safe 'keeping or his supersonic stumpings/run-outs. Everyone would agree that he is in the league of people like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman - who are cricketing legends but are still seen as even better persons and role models, thanks to their impeccable behavior and conduct.

I'm afraid the past few months have made me take a stand against MS Dhoni on one aspect: his conduct against umpires.

As I said, my thoughts are not based on only how he behaved with Paul Reiffel yesterday (when he was about to CORRECTLY signal (and had already half-signalled) a wide but because this is sadly, not a one-off.

This had happened last year too, in the IPL - at that time, umpire Ulhas Gandhe was at the receiving end, and MSD was not even on the playing field! He charged from the dugout to voice his objection to the umpire in the field of play.

As I said, there are multiple instances - you can find these most prominent ones listed here. Hopefully, this stays at that, and remains an exhaustive list with no further additions. But there is no doubt now, that the much-famed coolness and equanimity seem to desert him especially when he and/or his team are in a precarious position with form or match-situation. While it is only natural to feel disappointed or even upset at a decision then, it is quite unbecoming to argue, object aggressively and even force the umpire to overturn his decision!

This is where you would never have found Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid behaving poorly. And they played at a time when, unlike today, there was no DRS! And Sachin has famously received some extremely poor decisions (sure, like many other batsmen must have, and like any batsmen who would play as many as he did, might get) and he naturally felt aggrieved and upset but just that. Think of the most horrendous decision and he would only raise his eyebrows a wee bit more, pause and wonder at his fate for some more seconds but still, walk back without remonstrating and with all his grace and dignity, like a true gentleman. This is why, even after they have retired, even if/when their records get broken, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid will far outllive and outshine every other cricketer as role models because how fool-proof and impeccably correct they were, not just in their batting but most importantly, in their conduct.

That's it. This article was not to castigate Dhoni as such but to ensure that as people who have celebrated his many other qualities, we must acknowledge where he is wrong too, especially when it has been observed across multiple instances. Such an understanding and admission will help not just in assessing him but also in ensuring that our love for our stars and idols does not eclipse their transgressions and discipline.

Dear MS, you are a sporting hero. Please remember that before calling you a hero, we are calling you sporting. It might help to remember that sporting does not just refer to a game but to a way of life and deportment. So be sporting first, and only then will you truly be a hero. Wish you more patience, discipline and equanimity!

IPL - Ye Dil Maange More!

We have heard a lot about the viles of the IPL.

About how the cricketing skills of patience and orthodox play have become subservient to the IPL's way of life, to the glitz and glamour of cricket.

About how the evil eye of spot-fixing, of administrators/big crooks (calling the shots in the game - outside the field of play and even inside), and of underworld presence too.

To a large extent, it is also true that the game has become highly commercial with such a cricketing extravaganza, the after-match high-profile parties (though not now, thanks to the pandemic-enforced restrictions) and even the way the rules, pitches and stadiums have been designed to be skewed too heavily in favor of only one skill: the batsmen.

Any Tom, Dick or Harry can come and hit sixes on his day, any team can chase any score from any position against any side, within a matter of a few balls. 

True true true, all of that.

True, 20-20 cricket is not as much about patience as it is more about taking the bull by the horns and going for the jugular, right from the word go. 

True, the good old values of discipline or seeing the ball off (actually, the ball is seen-off in T20s too, but that is more like a bye-bye parting from the batsmen - see ball, hit ball) are archaic in today's age of 20-20s.

But still...

For all the derision and scorn it receives, 20-20 cricket in general and the IPL in particular, gives us many things too - it attracts the best of talent, playing alongside or against each other, making it a melting pot of the world's best superstars, in a see-saw battle between teams where anyone can win from any situation on any day.

And that, is exciting.

The IPL showcases skill, gumption, daredevilry and innovation at its very best, from the very best, against the very best. For almost 65 days, non-stop.

Most matches are nail-biters where any team could come up trumps.

Rahul Tewatia, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jofra Archer, Jasprit Bumrah - these are just some of the many names that have carved their niche from the IPL.

And surely, the list will go on.

Well done to the IPL, and thanks for the entertainment!

Looking forward to the season and thrills galore - cheers!!

Thank you, MSD

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!) :)

From 6 sixes to 5 hundred!

It's been almost 13 years.

Yes, that famous night of September 2007 of the first-ever T20 World Cup, when a certain Yuvraj Singh in his pomp (and already charged up in the previous over by Andrew Flintoff), smashed a clueless, hapless Stuart Broad for 6 consecutive sixes in an over.

While the entire world quite appropriately celebrated Yuvraj, Stuard Broad was relegated to just be a quiz question, much like Malcolm Nash after what Sir Gary Sobers had done to him - Who was the bowler whom Sobers hit for 6 sixes in an over? So here was Broad, in a rather avoidable league, giving company to Malcolm Nash in international cricket trivia.

Cut to 2011 for the 50-over World Cup in India. 

The stage: England Vs Ireland. 

You would think that lightning doesn't strike twice.

Yet, here was Broad, his shoulders anything but broad after his crucial 48th over turned out to be disastrous. What's more, his spilled opportunity contributed to England losing to minnows Ireland in that match.

As they say, it doesn't get bigger than this - two world cup occasions. But two huge blunders. 

Forget the result, think of the psyche of the person.

Can one even imagine what all he must have gone through?

Yet, Broad did not wilt, did not succumb.

Credit to the England team management too, for handling him remarkably well and for giving him the confidence and assurance that would have surely helped him believe he was still among the best England had. And as they say, after all these years, here we are today, lauding the man for reaching a summit that only 6 other legends have scaled before him, in the history of the game.

Fittingly, the 500 wickets he has taken, have come in the area that let him down, on two of those rare World Cup off-days - in his bowling only.

As cliched as it may sound, this just goes on to only add credence to the fact that we can always achieve great heights, if we remain steadfast, if we keep learning and improving and if we keep persevering, without doubting ourselves.

Well done Broady, and thank you for exemplifying such a pertinent life lesson through your tremendous achievement! Attaboy!