MS Dhoni: The Man We Now Know

You don't often see a biopic made on the life of a cricketer who's still active in his career. So a Bollywood movie on the life of MS Dhoni was always going to be special. And why not! After all, Dhoni is one of the most celebrated cricketers in India's cricketing history and his achievements as captain of the Indian cricket team are unmatched. As someone who has admired the man’s cricketing acumen, I was looking forward to this film with much anticipation. I went in as a fan of MS Dhoni the cricketer, but came out as a fan of MS Dhoni the human being.

It is impossible for a filmmaker to sum up the life of a 35-year old cricketer in just 3 hours. But to the director's credit, we can tell he's done his best and given us an honest portrayal of the man we all admire. As for the film, the best part about the entire storyline was the fact that it prominently depicted the journey of an aspiring young cricketer, and not the hullabaloo and fanfare that comes along with it. As fans and armchair critics, it is easy for us to put down a particular cricketer when he's had a bad day at the office. But we often fail to acknowledge the sacrifices he has to make even to get to that stage. All this makes for an interesting behind-the-scenes reel, which has been brilliantly portrayed by the makers of this film. Those who've watched the movie know that there are certain creative liberties taken as far as Dhoni's personal life is concerned. But the cricketing aspects have come out cleanly without being tampered with. Sushant Singh Rajput has done a fabulous job of playing the on screen Dhoni. There are moments in the film when you actually start seeing the real Dhoni in him.

For cricket and especially Dhoni fans, this movie is a revelation of the other side of the man behind India's World Cup wins. It tells us why Dhoni had to take certain tough calls in his career and what made him so successful, who were the people who shaped his childhood and many other things that Dhoni himself wouldn't otherwise speak openly about. The film is also a gentle reminder of the fact that sheer hard work and determination can take you to the greatest heights of success, and it is not always necessary to have godfathers. It also taught us an important life lesson - you don't need a lot of friends to succeed in life. Few quality friends who can selflessly go the distance just to see you succeed are the ones you hold onto.

The curious case of Rohit Sharma

I am absolutely appalled by the way the Indian media, along with our so-called pundits have time and again criticised Rohit Sharma for his batting failures. Why is he the only one who has been constantly singled out as the reason behind Team India’s recently adopted rotation policy in Australia? Was it just because our captain cool said it was necessary for Rohit to get a few games in the initial stages of this tri-series? I strongly disagree.

Rohit has worked his way into this star-studded Indian line-up and he deserves to be in the playing eleven. Two-time Man-of-the-Series in 2011, both against the West Indies; Rohit has steered the Indian team to crucial victories when most seniors were rested, including Dhoni. He did this when all others failed, not to forget the stand-in captain, Suresh Raina. The statistics that popped up on the television screen this morning show exactly why he should not be made the scapegoat; as if denying him a Test debut wasn’t enough already when the team went through a series of whitewashes. For the first time ever, I agreed with Ravi Shastri, when he mentioned how Rohit automatically qualifies to play in the side ahead of the CSK lad. Frankly, Raina has not been at his best off late, but is yet considered to be an important aspect of this one-day outfit. With all due respect to his fielding skills and keeping in mind his batting position, I would still give him the benefit of doubt. But if the rotation policy has been devised ONLY to give Rohit a chance, this does not seem fair, in my opinion. The idea behind this strategy was to “rest” seniors, but why pick on Rohit as the reason? Is it not possible to rest Raina for a game or two, and go ahead with all three openers?

Cricket is a cruel game; you never know when the axe is on you! Harbhajan Singh can probably describe this feeling better. It is sad to see how Rohit’s talent has been ignored all the time. Not giving him credit where it’s due, denying him a Test opportunity, and oh, I must not forget to mention how he wasn’t a part of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning squad. Yes, he has been inconsistent at times, but every cricketer has gone through a bad patch in his career at some point. What's the whole fuss about Rohit Sharma's form? Has he NEVER scored runs for India when the team was in dire need? Or maybe Dhoni is just too fond of his CSK teammate, eh?



And before anyone asks me, (Yes! I am obsessed with Rohit Sharma)...

2011: An eventful year for Indian Cricket!

When I celebrated my birthday in February, 2011, all I asked as a gift from God was something that every Indian wanted since 28 years. Yes, one billion hearts had just one unfulfilled wish, a dream waiting long enough to become reality. Although, we became the No.1 Test team in the world first up, there was something more on the agenda. I still remember the day I rushed home from my examination hall to watch India take on Sri Lanka in the finals of the World Cup. I was nervous, not for my exam paper, but for the upcoming exam that Guru Gary and his brigade had to face. It was as if the whole of India was about to go through it. Gods were being remembered, prayers were being offered and the streets were empty. Eyes glued to the television sets, we were all waiting for that historical moment that was about to change lives, millions of them. And it finally happened: 2nd April '11 was the day we saw that dream turn into an unbelievable reality! I had to pinch myself really hard so that I could be convinced it happened for real. What followed was the exact opposite of what happened in daytime; streets were overcrowded, crackers went up, the Indian tricolour was flying high with pride and random people exchanged hi-fives and hugs. This, for me, was the most memorable moment of my life. I had never seen something like this before. And for those who criticize Indian Cricket and it's cricketers, there couldn't have been a bigger evidence of why this sport means so much to it's fans. Cricket does that to our nation: it unites people, brings them joy, shares every emotion attached to the game. The year 2011 surely proved to be lucky for our Men in Blue and our World Cup triumph went down as a significant achievement in India's sporting history.

While we were still finding it difficult to digest this sweet taste of success, the IPL showed up in no time. Too much of intense cricket during the World Cup was reason enough for cricketers as well as fans to be exhausted. Mentally, the IPL was no longer important to us, because the WC win had overpowered everything that had ever been achieved before. However, the excitement of Twenty20 cricket and it's fast-paced nature attracted some spectators, if not all. Also, a slight change in the rules made it a bit interesting. Despite all that, the result was the same. The mighty Chennai Super Kings emerged victorious for the second consecutive year, thereby saddening the Mumbai Indians fan club, which includes me. Tendulkar was unhappy too, as we could see how well the team performed this year, compared to how it did in the previous editions. All our hopes were crushed after the semi-final defeat. But, we were upbeat about the Champions League T20, though some of my CSK friends easily made a joke of it. Little did they know that determination and self-confidence will only take us closer to our goal. And YES! We did it. Mumbai Indians won the CLT20, beating some of the best teams in the world. While CSK fans kept cribbing about the final being fixed, all I could tell them was that at the end of the day, it was an Indian team that won the tournament, one reason why they should be proud.

A series win in the Caribbean followed, and then it all went wrong. India landed in England with the Test mace on their shoulders. A shocking 4-0 drubbing ensured that the No.1 Test rank was gone, only making it more humiliating. But, amidst all this chaos and criticism, there stood a man we fondly call "The Wall". Even with the hype that surrounded Tendulkar's hundredth 100, Rahul Dravid continued to do what he does best. Top-class batting with utmost patience and a textbook style produced three Test tons at an age where most cricketers are at the end of their careers. Perhaps, this was the only positive that one could draw from an otherwise disappointing tour of England. India returned with deep wounds, but nursed them quickly with a whitewash over the touring Englishmen in the ODIs. That was some revenge. The winning streak continued against the Windies when they visited India. Ravichandran Ashwin made a memorable Test debut. But then, something unusual happened. Out of nowhere, Virender Sehwag stormed to a swashbuckling double century in an ODI and became only the second in the world to break the barrier, after Sachin Tendulkar. A proud moment, again, for India. For many Tendulkar followers, this was a heartbreak; for Sehwag fans, a dream come true; while those who enjoy some aggressive batting were simply overwhelmed. History was created, by someone who we thought would do it before anyone else, even Tendulkar.

At the end of the year, it all boiled down to the crushing 122-run defeat to Australia in the Boxing Day Test. What then, is the proudest moment for us? Primarily, the World Cup win - 2nd April, 2011: A day that will be remembered for decades together. Sehwag's magical 219, Dravid's superb form that resulted in him being the highest run-scorer in Tests this year, are some of the wonderful moments that 2011 has given us. However, the most anticipated feat is still under construction. Let's not keep a check on that, for you never know when it'll happen. But if the world is definitely ending in 2012, the ton of tons is just around the corner! After all, GOD too, has a wish to fulfill.

Make no Blunder, Down Under!

With less than a week to go for the India-Australia series, the heat is already being turned on! Even if Star Cricket wouldn't have come up with their ad campaigns in the meanwhile, we'd still believe that an India-Australia series is always intense, courtesy some memorable contests in the past. But the fact that some of Aussie faces have featured in those ads is something that I cannot digest. Especially after being beaten by New Zealand in the 2nd Test at Hobart, almost everyone knows who will be facing the heat.

As far as India is concerned, 4 Tests, 2 T20Is and an ODI tri-series will mean a considerable amount of time away from home and hence, they would like to make every minute count. Dhoni's army will be eager to wipe off the drubbing they last received early this year, when the team toured England and failed to win a single game. However, the year 2007 brings back memories of a determined Team India that beat Australia for the first time in 5 years in their own den. Led by Anil Kumble, the Indian side was humiliated in the infamous Sydney Test, but later lifted themselves to go ahead and defeat the Aussies at Perth. Ishant Sharma, Irfan Pathan emerged as stars in the dressing room and returned as heroes. And of course, the dependent batting trio (Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman) continued to shine for their country. A lot has changed for both sides since then; Australia are no longer the No.1 Test team in the world, senior players have retired and the younger lot has not yet proved themselves. The Indians on the other hand, are coming off a World Cup win to begin with, followed by a terrible defeat at the hands of England, thereby losing their top rank in Tests and eventually finishing with thumping victories over the West Indies. Therefore, this series will be a huge opportunity for both teams as Australia would be keen to live up to their reputation, whereas India would be hell bent on winning their inaugural series down under.

The home side may have the psychological advantage over the visitors, but they clearly have more reasons to worry. Former captain Ricky Ponting has been out of form since a long time now, and the axe is most likely to fall on him. A fairly new captain in the form of Michael Clarke will be put to test and only time can tell if he comes out successful. Their coach, Micky Arthur is also relatively new to the job and this will affect the team's performance in a way. The team's bowling attack looks weaker than before, especially after the retirement of Brett Lee, who was once dreaded. Patrick Cummins was a new find waiting to be explored on home soil, but now with him being ruled out along with their spearhead Mitchell Johnson, I wonder if the Aussies can even manage a decent bowling line-up. Plus, the inclusion of Shane Watson remains a mystery. The list of their problems is endless... However, pride is at stake for the hosts as they look to re-establish their dominance in world cricket by proving themselves once again.

Back to Mera Bharat Mahan: India have "never" won a Test series in Australia. That alone explains why this series is more important than any of the previous ones. MS Dhoni will be looking forward to do something that his predecessors have failed to do in years. This time around, Dhoni would be eager to change the trend. Well of course, we all know how much Dhoni loves to win, whether its an IPL or a World Cup. It seems like he knows no other way. Winning is the only goal of his life and it is this very intent that inspires his teammates every time they go out to play. In the past four years, India have unearthed numerous talents and many of them are now awaiting their turn in this much anticipated series. The batting line-up looks perfect! Virender Sehwag is on fire, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman are at their best when it comes to Australia, Sachin Tendulkar looks desperate (positively) for his 100th 100 and there is no better opponent to achieve that milestone. The No.6 spot is up for grabs and whoever makes the cut, will be slightly better than the ones who don't. Virat Kohli has been in terrific form this year and so has Rohit Sharma, who had a wonderful run against the Windies at home and away. Either way, it is a strong set of batsmen ready to face the challenge. Zaheer Khan, should he be fully fit and play the whole series, is our most beloved asset in the bowling department. Ishant may be struggling, but a fresh and young Umesh Yadav will want to capitalize on this big occasion with some good pace up his arsenal. The spin duo of Ashwin and Ojha have already proved their mettle at home, and are now awaiting their turn. Vinay Kumar and Abhimanyu Mithun will have to pull up their socks, if they're called in.

Sadly for me, Irfan Pathan was not included in this Test team. Talk about adding salt to the wounds, Star Cricket kept showing the Perth Test where Pathan was swinging the ball and I couldn't help but stare in disbelief. No cricketer is guaranteed a permanent spot in the team, you slip once and you're out. Probably, Harbhajan Singh will be the best person to realize this at the moment. It was extremely disheartening to see Pathan being left out, especially with the experience that he carries. But all said and done, it is now time for some "Thunder, Down Under!". The Indians stand their best chance to win this time, and there cannot be a better farewell for our legends who will be stepping into the Kangaroo land for the last time in their career!


CHAK DE! INDIA