MS Dhoni: More than just a cricketer, an epitome of a born leader

A leader is remembered for his deeds, not for the honors he received while in power. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the unchallenged leader on and off the cricket field according to all metrics, topping every benchmark, bar, criterion, gold standard, and, for that matter, any measure attainable on this planet.

Thala turns 41 today. Even though the lion is a year older, he hasn't given up hunting, and his competitive nature is still as strong as a teen's. IPL 2023 will feature the competitive beast known as MS Dhoni, and who knows, perhaps beyond that.

But where is the birthday boy, MS Dhoni? Even after retiring from international cricket, Dhoni is exceedingly difficult to find whether he is not playing cricket or filming for an advertisement. Even his closest friends, family members, and managers are unaware of Dhoni's whereabouts when he is taking a break.

(Photo Credit: Twitter/@chennaiipl)

The great man, however, disclosed that he is currently in London watching a Wimbledon tournament involving Rafael Nadal, another classic. Along with Dhoni, one of his teammates uploaded a picture of the birthday child and them on Twitter. Mahi was also seen cutting a special birthday cake, and special festivities for India's most successful and illustrious cricket captain in history were held with certain distinguished persons, including current wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant.

Take a look at the video here .

I'm not there to talk about his cricketing prowess or the mark that his deeds and choices have made on the field of play. The entire world is aware of this, and a number of other cricket blogs will be gushing over his achievements. I'm here to discuss the man who, while dominating every sport there is, maintains his neighborly demeanor, as if to say, "What's the big deal? I did what I was excellent at, and if I can do it, you can too."

Dhoni is Aware of his Roots

A photo appeared on the internet a few days ago. From Dhoni's hometown of Ranchi, Vaidya Bandhan Singh Karwar rose to prominence online. Karwar has been providing medical care to people under a tree in a Ranchi village for nearly 28 years.

Vaidya Bandhan Singh Kharwar has been providing medical care to patients for the past 28 years at Katingkela in the vicinity of the Lapung police station, around 70 kilometers from Ranchi. Dhoni has been stopping by his tarpaulin tent under a tree for a dose of his medication every four days for the past month. This Vaidya makes a special medication for treating bone conditions that cannot be taken home.

(Photo Credit: Twitter/@ms_dhoni_077)

Like all of his patients, Dhoni was charged Rs 40 by Vaidya Bandhan Singh Kharwar, who uses wild plants to heal illnesses.

Before Dhoni, his parents received care from this physician. Singh, a well-known doctor in his community, prepares milk with a variety of herbs and gives it to his patients to drink. He stated that Dhoni had taken one dose of the medication a month prior and that he was unsure of the timing of his next visit.

Vaidya Bandhan Singh Kherwar claimed that at first, neither Dhoni nor his parents could be recognized. It wasn't until the neighborhood kids flocked around him for pictures that he found out about his celebrity patient.

(Photo Credit: Twitter/@ms_dhoni_077)

"Dhoni comes like a normal patient without any pomp," the doctor stated. He doesn't take fame or notoriety seriously. However, the announcement of Dhoni's visit now brings his supporters here every four days. He is currently receiving his medication while sitting in his automobile.

You can object that there is no great deal with Dhoni visiting a vaidya because it is for his own welfare and therapy. You are correct, however, Bandhan emphasized that there was no showbiz, no bragging by the great man about his cricket accomplishments, and nothing that seemed to be saying, "Come and look at me, I'm Dhoni." Many contemporary cricketers, many of whom have never even represented India, have the same mindset.

MSD's Services Are For the Nation

(Photo Credit: Facebook/msdhonifansofficial)

I'd want to ask you a quick inquiry. How many former athletes, whether from sports or cricket, have you seen devotedly serving the Indian Military Forces like MS Dhoni? The person who had guided India to several World Cup victories received the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Territorial Army in 2011 during the latter stages of his cricket career. He also provided military service in 2019, spending a few weeks stationed in Jammu & Kashmir.

After completing five parachute training jumps from Indian Army planes in the Agra training camp, he qualified as a parachutist in 2015, four years after receiving the honorary rank in the Indian Territorial Army.

The Ranchi Rambo has admitted to the public that he intended to join and serve in the Indian Army instead of cricket.

The great guy has repeatedly demonstrated Dhoni's devotion to the Indian army. Look at the following examples:

a. Wearing Army Uniform While Receiving Padma Bhushan:

(Photo Credit: DNA)

In 2018, Mahendra Singh Dhoni donned his army uniform while accepting the Padma Bhushan from the nation's President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind. When Mahendra Singh Dhoni appeared, he was dressed in an army uniform and declared that his childhood desire of joining the army had come true.

b. Paying Tribute to Pulwama Attack Victims

(Photo Credit: DNA)

The entire Indian team paid tribute after the Pulwama assault occurred in the year 2019. India's next game was against Australia at Ranchi on March 8. All of the Indian cricket team's players were seen during the game wearing camouflage hats as a sign of respect for the Pulwama attack victims.

c. Gloves with the Sacrifice Badge worn at the 2019 WC

(Photo Credit: CatchNews)

In 2019, South Africa of India hosted the tournament's opening game. the gloves he used to keep wicket during that game. It was used to make a badge for sacrifice. Let us clarify that the sacrifice badge is only awarded to paratroopers. However, following that game, there was a great deal of controversy, which led to Dhoni never wearing those gloves again, despite the fact that the entire nation was convinced of this.

MS Dhoni Turns Into a Farmer

(Photo Credit: Tribune India)

Learning never stops, regardless of your level. The aphorism above surely applies to MSD. What kept MS Dhoni occupied when the effects of the deadly coronavirus were causing the entire world to reel? Agriculture is the answer.

In his Ranchi farmhouse, arguably India's greatest cricket star was busy learning how to farm, operate a tractor, and raise organic veggies.

On his ranch near Ranchi, MS Dhoni is preparing an integrated farming system. The farm, which has a total area of around 10 acres, has already begun producing fruits and vegetables like papaya, peas, strawberries, cabbage, tomatoes, and broccoli.

(Photo Credit: Cric7videos)

MS Dhoni has begun work on animal husbandry on his farm in addition to horticulture. According to reports, the farmhouse is home to 75 cows of varieties like Sahiwal. Additionally, there are plans to start a fish and poultry farm.

On Ring Road in Sembo village, Ranchi, is where MS Dhoni's enormous farmhouse can be seen. It is estimated to be 43 acres in size.

It's true that he played cricket for almost 20 years, but when Dhoni announced his retirement, you won't find him on a panel discussing Indian cricket, regardless of how well or how terribly the team is doing. How quickly he abandoned the thing that had given him everything he possesses now.

Dhoni now devotes his entire time to taking care of himself, his family, and his close friends. He may be aiming for the stars, but his feet remain firmly planted.

Always Focus on The Process, Rather than the End Result

(Photo Credit: BCCI)

Focus on the process and the outcomes will take care of themselves, MS Dhoni has reportedly said often. He has succeeded using this formula both on and off the cricket pitch. He treats success and disappointment equally, just like a good leader should. He will offer you his undivided attention when you speak to him. When someone meets Dhoni for the first time, they find him to be both inspiring and occasionally terrifying.

He is a man who has gained knowledge via his struggles. Dhoni has failed like everyone else, but he never gave up. He took care to avoid doing it again and put a lot of effort into improving his areas of weakness without revealing them to the public. Dhoni has weaknesses just like you and I do, but he hides them. That distinguishes MSD from the competition.

Before Mahi and after him, cricket has produced many great players. He is aware of this, and as a result, you will never see him argue about his legacy. He does not do this because, in his words, he cannot control the uncontrollable.

What have I learned from MS Dhoni and what have I experienced? To live in the moment, take measured chances, and make sure that everyone is content with your presence. He truly is the leader of all leaders, and I'm not just saying that because of his success in cricket. I say this because he has demonstrated that success can be attained in any discipline, regardless of one's background, but it does depend on where one is headed.

A true leader has no intention of leaving his imprint on the pages of history. It just happens because of his noble deeds, courageous choices, and exceptional capacity for emotional self-control in extreme situations.

So, if these are the metrics, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who turns 41 today, is far and away the best player in cricket. Age is just a number, as they say, and in MS Dhoni's case, it really is just a number. The great man is aware that cricket is the reason he is who he is today, despite the fact that his fans may expect more and more entertainment from his old body. Whether it's with his cricket bat or his stories, he never fails to amuse. Even at this young age, he enjoys leaving people wondering what will happen next.

That's MS Dhoni for you. He is more than just a name; he is a name that will live on in the hearts of Indian cricket fans as long as the wonderful game is played there.

Happy Birthday, MS !

(The author has a lot of expertise in creating sports content for television and other digital platforms. He has been following Indian cricket for the past 15 years.)