Page 131 - IPL1

Mahendra Singh

M ahendra Singh Dhoni attracted the highest

bid in the DLF Indian Premier League auction – the Chennai
franchise paid a cool $1.5million for his services – and it is
easy to understand why. He has become arguably the biggest
and most glamorous star of Indian cricket, which is saying
something given the competition he faces. He mixes charisma
with dynamic performances and trophy-winning captaincy. It
is no surprise that major companies clamour to hire Dhoni to
endorse their products.

In the space of five months, Dhoni led India to victory in the
inaugural ICC World Twenty20 event in South Africa – they
overcame Pakistan in a memorable final – and then beat Australia
2-0 to win the Commonwealth Bank Series, having already seen
off Sri Lanka. There is no question that Dhoni’s leadership was
crucial to his team’s success in both events. He was inspirational
and brilliantly merged an exciting crop of young players with the
ageing master, Sachin Tendulkar. The way he steered Chennai
Super Kings to within one ball of lifting the DFL Indian Premier
League merely underlined his credentials as one the calmest,
most respected captains in the game.
CAPTAIN

Dhoni’s adoring fans love his movie star looks – although the
once-long hair has been trimmed a touch – and his daring deeds.
Few can hit the ball as far as Dhoni or run as quickly between the
wickets. But these days he has added judicious shot-selection
to his natural power. His glovework has improved beyond
recognition, too, and the man from Ranchi in the cricketing
backwater of Jharkand has become just about the best
Dhoni
wicketkeeper/batsman in the world especially now that Adam
Gilchrist has retired from international cricket. His ability to
hit a yorker over long-on for six is one of international cricket’s
great party-pieces.

As a boy, Dhoni did not play cricket and instead excelled as a
soccer goalkeeper. But, once he picked up a bat, his rise was rapid.
He made his first-class debut at 18 and plundered 148 against
Pakistan in only his fifth one-day international. He followed
that with an amazing 183 not out from just 145 balls against Sri
Lanka, an innings including 10 sixes. It was the highest score
ever made by a wicketkeeper in a one-day international and the
best individual total in a team batting second. In April 2006, he
was briefly ranked the world’s No.1 batsman in one-day cricket.
There was success in Test cricket, too, with an innings of 148
against Pakistan in his fifth match.