–Boria Majumdar
MS Dhoni wasn’t able to get CSK over the line. To his credit Sandeep Sharma did manage to secure the two points for Rajasthan. But from a seemingly hopeless position Dhoni and Jadeja did manage to make the match interesting. So much so at 7 needed of 3 balls, it was CSK that had the upper hand. Most had started to back Dhoni to do it again. Another miracle from the man who was once the best finisher in the world by a country mile. It did not happen and that tells us he too is human. He too can make mistakes and his reflexes have slowed down a tad with age. Even the perfect finisher could be imperfect at times.
What last night also showed is how and why Dhoni is different. He still backs himself to do the job and is still happy to take the match deep. 18-20 runs of the last over isn’t something beyond him and he knows that better than most. He still has the confidence in his own ability to push in the last few balls and get the job done against all odds.
That brings me to the mind of the man. Why and how does he do this? What goes on in his mind? Where does this self-belief stem from?
This piece seeks an answer.
It was late December 2019 and we had just finished a chat show for one of MS Dhoni’s sponsors in New Delhi. I had a flight to catch in a few hours and was looking to grab some lunch before I left the hotel. That’s when the invite came. “Do you want to have lunch together?” asked Dhoni. “Please come up to my room and we can grab a bite,” he said and disappeared into the elevator with his team of security personnel. The cricket world wanted to know the mind of the man and this was an opportunity. More so in the aftermath of the world cup where Martin Guptil’s sensational throw had run him out. Ended the Indian campaign and made sure Dhoni wouldn’t win another world title.
Dhoni had been run out by inches and never played for India again.
He hadn’t spoken since and I had to ask him the question. Did he believe he could do the job in the last over with some 20 runs remaining had he not been run out? Wasn’t it impossible for even someone of his calibre?
Sample this from him.
“The last over in that semi final was to be bowled by Jimmy Neesham and I was backing myself. While you can’t say anything in cricket, 18-20 runs wasn’t something…” and he stopped in his tracks. Neesham against Dhoni in a world cup semi-final with the world watching could only have one winner and no one knew it better than him. “I had planned the innings all along and with Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) we were constantly assessing what we needed to do. An inch stopped us from implementing our plans,” he said before adding. “What you are thinking is 20 runs. You are thinking that’s a lot of runs. The bowler has cushion. But why don’t you think what the bowler must be going through. The bowler has MS Dhoni at the other end. Someone who has done this all his life. Will the bowler not be under pressure? Isn’t it likely that he will make mistakes? Think if you are able to hit two sixes of the first two balls. Then its 8 of 4. Who will you back at that point?”
That was enough for me. It was fascinating to see how his mind works. And as I was watching yesterday night, I couldn’t but help think back to this conversation. It was 21 of the last over and then 19 of 5. Two sixes. One over fine leg and one over mid wicket. Exactly as Dhoni had said to me. And the equation was 7 of 3 balls. Yes I did back Dhoni at that point to get it. Think everyone watching did the same. Sandeep Sharma must have felt the pressure. Any bowler would. That Sandeep was able to contain him was a fantastic job done. And that’s why I started the piece giving him all the credit. But coming back to Dhoni, it can be conjectured he did back himself last night. Must have thought the same way. Another perfect finish. But just like the world cup it was yet another imperfect finish from the perfect finisher. Having said that it does add to his legacy. A legacy unrivalled.