Kolkata: Old habits die hard! Yes we are not oblivious to this notion! And a Jharkhand cricketer has once again justified the adage with his heroics with the bat in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Saturday, April 22 would be a memorable day for the Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) as it faced the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) challenge to clinch a victory. And if it is anyone who deserves kudos for helping the RPS have the last laugh, it has to be MS Dhoni, who once again played the role of a finisher to win the match for his side.
Well, didn’t we say, old habits die hard? The national icon has made it a habit to come to his team’s rescue when the chips are down. And he has done it over and over again be it for India or any other side. Today’s knock will be special because his critics left no stone unturned to run him down and some of them even went to the extent of writing his cricketing obituary. Yet, Mahi proved them wrong with an innings which should go down as one of the best in the history of the IPL.
There’s something special about Dhoni! He never makes his emotions public. No matter, how inclement the situation is, he will remain cool and focus on the job ahead. His match-winning knock today is a vindication of the mental agility that he possesses. Even when the match was drifting away from his team, he didn’t panic and he knew exactly what he was supposed to do for his team.
What an innings! What a performance! And form is temporary, class is permanent! It’s not about the number of runs he has scored, it’s all about his approach that is exemplary for any wannabe cricketer!
This is how he has gone about the job over the years and there’s no stopping Dhoni. Well, a former Indian cricketer questioned his ability as a T20 cricketer, but if he has had the time to watch his innings, he should be repenting.
Come what may, Dhoni’s days are not over yet, whether you like it or not! And in the T20 format, he still remains a force to reckon with. Dada aka Prince of Calcutta, isn’t it time to withdraw your words on Dhoni?