In December 2004, a 23-year-old prodigy named MS Dhoni made his debut for the Indian national cricket team in an ODI against Bangladesh. Nobody really knew then what kind of impact this talent would have on the world of cricket. Now, though one can’t imagine what the world cricket would have been like without him. In terms of achievements he is untouchable. He holds records like the most win by an Indian Captain in One Day Internationals, Test matches and T20’s. He’s captained the team to victory numerous times such as the ICC World Twenty20 in 2007, The ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011, and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013 amongst several other series and competition wins. This also makes him the only Indian captain to lead his team to 3 ICC trophy victories.
His achievements will never be forgotten but most importantly, neither will his personality. Alongside his undeniable talent with bat in hand and his cat like reflexes behind the wicket, his mental fortitude is what made Dhoni one of a kind. No matter how challenging the situation, no matter how much pressure he was under, he remained calm and collected. When he was on the pitch, be it bat in hand or dictating strategy from behind the stumps, there was always an aura of calm surrounding him. Whenever he was on the pitch there was hope. It is just that simple. With every decision he made, every ball he faced, hope filled the hearts of 1.2 billion people. The influence which he has had on the national team and cricket in general is inexpressible and all the achievements stated above are testament to his brilliance.
On 15th August, 2020 MS Dhoni announced his retirement from international competition. Indians, cricketers, and fans from around the world have been paying tribute to our captain and reminiscing about his best moments and victories. His match winning innings in the 2011 World Cup finals where he scored 92 runs from 84 balls was indicative of him as a player and serves as a representation of his ability to shine on the biggest stage, under the brightest spotlight. And as he led the way, his team learnt how to do it too. So, as his 16-year long journey comes to an end, and we’re all thankful for the great things that he has done for our nation, while we say goodbye to him on the pitch there will always be a place in our hearts for our unforgettable Captain Cool.