Mahi Bhai and our Childhood Memories

Today might be the last time when we will see Dhoni on field. Dhoni is special in many ways. Now, before I start let me confess, I am not an avid cricket fan, I don't remember any stats and I don't follow every tournament. But this year’s IPL has been different. At Least in the later half, I think I have seen at least the last 4-5 years or highlights of every match. Having said that, cricket has been a big part of my childhood and I still play turf cricket. Because of this, Dhoni has been a big part of my childhood/teenage memories.

When Dhoni was at his peak, a smasher and someone who would make quick runs in the end and would finish almost every chase with a sixer.?

He was a rage!!! There used to be one hour programs on news channels on how many liters of milk Dhoni consumes every day!!!

This was the time when Musharaf complimented him on his hairstyle. I think he is the only cricketer who brought a certain long hair hairstyle into fashion. That and his love for bikes. Once again, there used to be programs on how many bikes and which bikes Dhoni has at his home. I dont see such fandom for any cricketer. Not even Kohli. Yes, we had Sachin but his personality and fandom was different.

More than anything else, Dhoni has a great cricketing mind and is a very sharp and intelligent chap. He is one of the Directors of India cements because of his association with CSK and also owns a sports management company Ritee Sports which handles many talents. He is also going to produce a few movies. On top of that he has his own organic farm where he himself sometimes goes to literally get his hands dirty and would drive a tractor and all. He might have also earned good money from the movie based on his life. I still believe that movie could have been much better if more focus was there on cricket. He is also a honorary lieutant colonel with the Indian Army, and a qualified paratrooper.

To receive his Padma Bhushan he went in his army uniform

I don't know if he has any restaurants like other cricketers. But just have a look at a variety of things that he is involved in.

It was in 2007, when the Indian team was devastated as it did not even qualify from the preliminary round in the 50 over world cup. India lost a match to Bangladesh and Sri lanka and it was end of the tournament for the team.

I guess 6 to 8 months after the 50 over world cup there was going to be the first T20 cricket world cup and the game that we knew was going to change!!!?

Dhoni was the new captain for this format. First thing that he ensured along with selectors was not to take senior players to the T20 world cup. And it included big names like Sachin, Dravid and Saurav Da who were not playing in the side and new players were included.

First match against Pakistan and it was a thriller. It was a tie. There was no super over at that time and both sides had to bowl 5 deliveries to the stumps. The team which hits the stumps the most number of times, wins!!! Very similar to penalty shot in football. Our smartass Mahi Bhai, sat behind the stumps so that bowlers can have better visibility.?

And it was not the best bowlers of the team who took the shot. One of them was Robin Uthappa who was an opening batsman and a part time bowler. The team had practised for such a situation, and they had figured out Robin was one of the better guys to hit the stumps? when there was no batsman to bat. We had a blast that day. Whole of India was on the streets.?

And then who can forget the finals of that tournament!!! Misbah Ul Haq was going great and it was Pakistan’s match to win. Dhoni had two options to go for in the last over. First one, the experienced Harbhajan Singh and the second one, a new guy called Joginder Sharma. Dhoni went with the new guy!!! It was India’s fortune that Misbah played a poor shot and Shreesanth took the catch. The whole country when beserk!!! Once again everyone was on the streets with flags , there was Bharat Mata ki Jai all around. It was a complete party on the streets. It was phenomenal.?

A similar story repeated in 2011 world cup!!! India won the world cup and it was Dhoni who led the charge in the finals. We have to mention Gambhir, nahin toh woh bura maan jayega. Gambhir’s innings was the one which was match winning but it was that sixer by Dhoni, with Ravi Shastri's commentary ……..”and Dhoni finishes in style!!!! India lifts the world cup!!!” which has been etched in our memories. A complete moment of pure joy!!! I saw that match with my friends in our buildings chawk on a small TV. Boy what a moment that was. Few of us wear in tears!!! Thanks to Dhoni, these have been few of the moments of my childhood which I will never forget. It has made my childhood special.

There is no animated celebration from Dhoni. He is stunned for a moment after hitting the six, then he just lifts one of the stumps to keep as a momento and starts walking towards the pavilion

Yet, when you see the pics of the trophy moment. You will find it very difficult to spot where Dhoni is. That is the kind of leader that he is.?

Then off course, during the victory lap. It is Sachin who is on the shoulders of the team. It was the gift to Sachin for carrying the burden of cricket on his shoulders for 20 years!!!

I also remember a moment where in one of the winnings Down under. He was very straight in saying that seniors have to perform. I think Sachin produced two centuries in the same tournament after that statement.

Then during that classic Bangladesh game where Dhoni runs instead of throwing a ball on to the stumps for the run out. Before the ball has been bowled, he had removed one of his gloves very well knowing that he might have to throw the ball to the stumps. Bangladesh needed two to win off the last ball. Batsman missed the bowl , bowl went straight to Dhoni and instead of throwing the ball for a run out he ran towards the stumps as he knew that if he missed, there are chances Bangladesh might get a chance to sneak in a second one. By running he ensured that risk would be mitigated to some extent even if he does not reach on time. But he reached on time and India won the match.

I think Dhoni has been one of the very few captains who was not stripped off his captaincy because of poor performance.? He knew the time when he had to pass on the baton. He remained in the team and passed on the captaincy to Chiku (Virat Kohli). Classic example of succession planning!!!?

One thing that I most admire about Dhoni is that even without doing any kind of MBA or Business studies somewhere down the line he understood that it is all about processes!!! He just emphasised the fact that follow the process and results would follow. This mantra has worked magic even in a sport like cricket where things are spontaneous.?

When Dhoni announced his retirement from International Cricket. He did not wait for one last tournament or an exhibition match. He could have easily done that and he knew world will go crazy. Who would miss that final moment of recognition!!! But Dhoni is Dhoni. He writes a note that he is retiring and shares a video with images from his career and the song in the background is “Main Pal Do Pal ka shayar hu…Pal do pal meri kahani hai…”?

I write this post today, first of all for myself. To revisit all my old memories when I write. It has been a blissful experience. I share this with the hope that you also relive these priceless moments.

Once again, I am no cricket expert and not a avid cricket fan either. But this post is just from Dil Se for Mahi Bhai!!!