Today on 15th August 2020 when the whole country was busy sharing greetings on Independence Day, you silently declared on Instagram that the country should consider you as retired after 1929 hrs. Indeed we were shell-shocked! You decided to hang your gloves, and all that I could think of was now we won’t be watching you in the next world cup. You broke millions of hearts today.
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We fans, at times, become very selfish with our cricket urges that we tend to rule the player's decision as a premature one but MSD, I believe in You. You have always done everything which was best for the team but this decision has really left us speechless.
Earlier players used to continue playing unless they were dropped from the national side and forced to take retirement. Many famous players made unannounced retirement, we never knew if it was their last match. Now, we as a fan are confused which is a better way of retirement. We can't take sudden retirement announcements nor can we see a legend struggling and being dropped and not being selected again and again.
But for one man, unanimously everyone around the globe is not sure to hear sudden retirement news and it's our Thalaivaa MS Dhoni but that day has come.
I always thought I would pen down a letter to you, never knew it would be the day of your retirement. With a heavy heart, I would like to say ‘MSD, you will be deeply missed’.
Donning the blue jersey NO. 7 when I first saw you playing an international ODI, my father said that this boy is from Jharkhand and you will see he will make India proud.” I could see my dad’s eyes sparkle.
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Like every cricket fan, he had high hopes from you. I wasn’t that big fan of cricket, in fact there were times I hated my father for continuously watching you Men in Blue play. But, something really struck me when you smashed your first century against our arch-rivals Pakistan. You were the Hero of the nation and people in Jharkhand were rallying on roads holding your posters and rejoicing. That day, you inspired me. Watching those people leaving all their fears and worries and worries made me realize that I also want to live my dreams.
I won’t be listing your achievements here as going down that memory lane and realizing you will no longer be seen in the International cricket will bring tears, but the way you started your initial career in Pakistan, claimed captaincy in a short time, lifted World Cups (2007, 2011), carried CSK in the world toughest T20 league IPL (2010, 2011, 2018) and Champions Trophy (2013) are moments I will cherish forever.
The miracle you did on the cricket field made everyone wonder if you really are a human. Your cricketing acumen was so accurate that people believe if Dhoni gave someone out on the field then his team starts celebrating without waiting for the 3rd umpire. Your lightning-fast stumpings were viewers' delight.
For me, or every ardent fan of yours, every word made sense when our Thala, Dhoni answered in a press conference or spoke during post-match presentations. Some of your on-field decision on why you brought a specific bowler to bowl for a particular batsman or make a certain field position for a batsman could be a case study for business schools to learn how to adapt to a scenario and come out victorious.
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I remember the time you faced media after a series defeat in Bangladesh, The questions hurled at you were venomous and hostile. For the first time in your life, you did not manage to look unruffled. As an ardent admirer of yours, it was painful for me to see the mask of nonchalance that had become one with your skin fall off to reveal the hurt and indignation that lies beneath.
That indignation is very real, but so silently had you carried the burden for so many years now that the mask had become your face. So much so that it is now frightful to meet the face that lies beneath. It is one of those faces that is folded up, locked in the cupboard, and conveniently forgotten. Long disuse rusts such a countenance and makes it strangely uncanny.
No one can generally read thoughts or emotions on your face. Your nonchalance after a series win instead left the country tearing its head out in confusion.
But that is how you have always been. Your grave nonchalance after the CB series win in Australia in 2008 left even the commentators confused. Feisty with a calmness, vindictive with a nonchalance - therein lies your greatest strength. The calmness of temperament is usually the key to the clarity of your vision.
You have offered to accept all responsibilities and step down as a captain if it takes Indian cricket forward.
In IPL's history, Dhoni you were the only person who made the crowd go against the home team. The cheers, the support you had on any ground is unparalleled. You have been inspirational not only to Indian players but also to the foreign players. Numerous foreign players who have played with you have given numerous testimony that you are the best in cricket business.
Controversies have never deserted you. The spot-fixing scandal in 2013 seemed to have cast a pall of gloom over your career. But international stardom always comes at a price.
We had needed but lacked a player like you for ages! We did not have a wicket-keeper who could bat well so much so that Dravid had to wear the gloves for a long time.
Your match-winning knock of 183 against Sri Lanka back in 2005 will never be forgotten. Flailing away with cuts, hooks, and helicopter shots, you seemed to be a superhero wielding a weapon of mass destruction. With brute force and long hair, you soon became the poster boy of Indian cricket. Drinking milk became fashionable again. Teenagers stopped trimming their hair. Whatever you did, the nation seemed to follow.
Today when you have really left what you loved the most, the nation will still follow you and we fans await to see our superhero Mahendra Singh Dhoni wearing that jersey number 7 donning the color yellow and leading the Chennai Super Kings towards victory.
We, will miss you MSD. Would love to say again ‘Mahi Maar Raha Hai’!
From,
Your Fan