Published: Mar 26, 2015, 08:35 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 27, 2015, 10:28 AM (IST)
A tough tour of Australia involving four Tests, followed by a triangular series and then the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 would have broken the back of the best of the cricket teams; but not India. Devarchit Varma writes an open letter to MS Dhoni, thanking him for all the joy the Indian cricket team provided, along with Dhoni’s huge sacrifice.
Dear MS Dhoni,
First of all, let me take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for pulling off such a fantastic campaign in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, especially after a tough few months in the build-up. READ: Australia crush by India by 95 runs, qualify for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 final
We all know how demanding it would have been for you personally, and the young Indian cricketers out there, away from families and friends for months at a stretch, battling it out day in and day out and providing us many joys and moments to cherish.
When you reached Australia, not a lot of people would have expected you to win the Test series; given India’s poor tour of England, you were not even expected to give Australia a tough time in the four Tests. To take on Mitchell Johnson and company head-on is never easy, and the way you handled the challenge was something that should be remembered for years.
All of us were left shell-shocked when you quietly walked away from the Test circuit even before the series ended. You being young, and India’s most favourite captain, deserved a farewell Test series back home so that we could give you a fitting send-off. For a moment we got swayed on the occasion, and forgot that you always remained a selfless character, always putting the country and the team ahead.
Honestly, we did expect you to do a little better in the triangular series. But little did we know what was there in the store mere weeks later; that you will come out all guns blazing, and win seven matches in a row in the 2015 World Cup. It is a huge shame on us for being inhuman, not realising our cricketers are not machines and you too need a break. Apologies, in case you were offended with our unending expectations and over-board criticism.
We did not expect you to do so well in the World Cup as well! Starting the defence of being the World Champions against arch rivals Pakistan was never easy, but your men brought smiles to the faces of remorseless yet passionate Indian cricket fans, and I once again want to thank you for that. India vs Australia Semi-Final: Indian innings highlights
The way you won against South Africa was an unexpected surprise, and the way you played against such a formidable side made us realise how wrong we were! We did also not expect you to lead India to so many wins in a row, and you to fire up our cricketers the way you did! You kept winning matches on the trot, and I am sure the whole of India is proud of you for setting new records.
The semi-final against Australia was never going to be easy, and the loss did hurt. But we know — but somehow refused to believe — that it was time, and the journey had to end somewhere. We salute you for producing the most memorable performance by an Indian team (an 87.5% success rate is unprecedented) in a single edition of World Cup cricket.
I have spent about five years of my life as a cricket journalist, and many more as an ardent fan. I cannot recall a single occasion where a cricketer missed a huge moment in his personal life to put his country ahead.
But you, MS Dhoni, are an inspiration. The birth of your child was much-awaited, and little did we all know that it will clash with the World Cup. Little Ziva was born on February 6, eight days before India’s first match in the World Cup. In hindsight, there was enough time for you to make a quick trip back home, be there with your family during the birth of your first child and zip through to return to your team.
But, you decided against it.
You decided against it because you were on ‘national duty’. You decided against it because you felt the young brigade of Indian cricketers needed you and your guidance in the build up to the World Cup. You decided against it because you, like a true soldier, kept the country first, followed by the team and then your personal life.
I shudder to think how you managed to spend so many weeks without seeing your wife and your daughter and at the same time, handled the pressure and a billion expectations and criticism, handled a bunch of young and inexperienced players and the maddening media and each and everything else, and took India so close to another World Cup win.
I am not going to add my two cents on how incomparable you have been from all the cricketers I have seen in my life. Neither am I going to point out how many cricketers have missed important matches for several ‘important occasions’ in their lives.
But right now, at this moment, all I can bring up forward is that in a few years’ time, I am also going to start my family. I will also have a child like you have today. But, I cannot muster courage, even an iota of it, and think that I have it in me to miss something as important as that.
I am not a soldier, but even so, let me salute you, and express my gratitude and regards for all that you have done for India — not only you, but also to Sakshi Dhoni, for making such a humongous sacrifice in your lives. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Complete Coverage
I always believed you were an excellent captain. But these four months have changed my perception. You are not a mere captain; you are a leader of men — men who bring unbridled joy every now and then, thank you for that.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, you have made every Indian proud.
Thank you.
(Devarchit Varma is a reporter with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)
