Opinion: Is it time for the Indian selectors to look beyond MS Dhoni in T20 cricket?
Mortality is the toughest thing to deal with, in sport. And that is why, however great a sportsman you are, how much ever you might have achieved, when 'father time' raises its ugly hood, even the greatest of them appear like mere mortals.
Without a shadow of a doubt, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been one of India’s greatest sportsmen. For the past decade and a half, the man has lived out a fairy tale on the cricket pitch and inspired millions of Indians to chase their dreams.
He has carved his own identity and etched his name in the hearts of millions of cricket lovers across the world.
But then, the last couple of years have been extremely unkind to Dhoni as certainly, age has been a huge factor in the decline in his form. The master finisher has not been able to force the pace, and has struggled to get going, especially in the shortest format of the game.
In the first T20 against Australia, Dhoni played 37 balls but could just hit one boundary in his entire innings. At a time when more than a run a ball was required, Dhoni had a strike rate of just 78.37 in the match. India certainly fell about 15-20 runs short in the first T20. As a result, the match went to the final ball, with Australia pipping India by three wickets.
Yes he was batting with the tail, but we don't expect him to be below run-a-ball, especially when there were a couple of over-pitched deliveries on offer.
The problem with all of us has been this - We are so attached to our cricketing icons that it is very difficult for us to pass strictly rational judgements about them. And with someone like Dhoni, whose fan base cuts across geographical barriers, even a finger pointed at him gets drowned by the outpouring of emotions from his fans.
The question that we should ask is this - What is left for Dhoni to prove in T20 cricket?
He led India to their maiden T20 title in 2007, he has masterminded the Chennai Super Kings franchise to three IPL titles, he has taken his side to innumerable yet successful last ball finishes, he has arguably been the greatest wicket-keeper India has ever produced, and has emerged as a cult icon for an entire generation.
And certainly, it is highly unlikely that Dhoni will carry on till the 2020 T20 World Cup.
And so, we come to this very pertinent question - Is it time for the Indian selectors to look beyond MS Dhoni in T20 cricket?
Let us understand the fact that Dhoni himself became famous for being a courageous captain, for his ability to take tough decisions in the face of adversity. He did not hesitate in dropping a senior player if he felt that he was not adding value to the team.
But today, the sword is hovering above Dhoni’s head.
It would be an extremely tough decision for the Indian selectors to make in Dhoni’s case, because we are talking about a man who has been the face of Indian cricket for the last decade and a half.
If we keep the emotional side out of the equation, then it might probably be the right time for the Indian selectors to look beyond Dhoni in T20 cricket, especially because he doesn't have the ability to rotate strike as quick in a format that needs a run per ball at minimum, and his unlikely appearance in the next T20 World Cup.