NEWSMAKER: Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Skipper with spirit and style

There is something about Mahendra Singh Dhoni. It’s probably his never-say die attitude that is keeping everybody’s nerves calm even as two of Indian cricket team’s most dependable players retire. The 27-year-old captain of the Indian cricket team shows traits that make him credible. He backs youngsters, takes risks and switches strategy if the need be, making him one of the most admired cricketers in recent years.

Call it co-incidence or Dhoni’s good fortune, India won both the tests he captained against Australia recently while those played under Anil Kumble ended in a draw. He’s not blessed with Rahul Dravid’s extraordinary technique, nor can he boast of shots which Sachin Tendulkar can play. Even the lazy elegance of VVS Laxman is missing. Yet if there was one man you would bet your life on to get the team out of a sticky situation, it would be Dhoni.

Dhoni’s record as a test captain, so far, is 100 per cent. He’s captained four matches and won four. As an ODI captain he’s had a success record of 54 per cent close to Sourav Ganguly’s. As a batsman, he might not be pleasing to the eye, yet he is effective and can absolutely smash bowlers all over the field.

Said to be one of India’s most successful captains – he has the distinction of beating Australia in the One-Day series – he exudes charisma off-field, too. His love for bikes is well-known, and, even his visits to the barber shop make headlines!

Marketers and advertisers love him for his style. At last count, Dhoni had 18 endorsement contracts including those for brands such as Pepsi, TVS, Brylcreem, Future Brands and Dainik Bhaskar, among others. He charges a hefty Rs 4-5 crore for every endorsement deal.

The poster boy of Indian cricket is not without his share of controversies either. As captain, he allegedly made it clear that he didn’t want seniors like Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly in the team. More recently, eyebrows were raised when he applied for a “Prohibitory Bore” arms licence for a 9-mm pistol considering he already has a Y- category security cover, which is second only to the Z-category. Such is his charisma that when an officer wanted to know why the cricketer needed the weapon, Dhoni’s fans were quite upset.

Dhoni’s critics argue that it is still early days to sing his praises. Next year, Team India has a gruelling schedule with overseas tours to Pakistan, New Zealand and the West Indies. That will be the true test of Dhoni’s character, ability and leadership.