MS Dhoni, a fantastic finisher

In all theatricals, artistes establish their domain. Some excel in opening the act, a few chip in with their supporting endeavours and a rare lot believe in making the stage their own with their finishing touch. Mahendra Singh Dhoni belongs to the last category.

Late on Thursday, while many disappointed fans probably switched off their tellys as the asking rate climbed steeply and Indian batsmen failed to click, Dhoni turned the ground into his stage to showcase his artistry against Sri Lankans.

With 15 needed in the last over and last batsman Ishant Sharma at the other end, Dhoni scored a six of the second ball, a boundary of the third and followed it with a maximum off the fourth to win the tri-series in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. Chasing a target of 202, India reached home with two balls to spare, Dhoni remaining unbeaten on 45.

Recovering from hamstring injury in time for the final, Dhoni made the difference between India winning and losing. However, what the Indian captain did on Thursday is nothing new.

There are few finishers in the game like Dhoni, who does it time and again. Remember his century against Pakistan in Chennai at the start of this year? Or his most memorable six that won India the World Cup in 2011? Dhoni has made the vacancy left behind by legendary Michael Bevan his own.

Late on Thursday, even as he saw Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Vinay Kumar return to the dressing in a procession from the non-striker's end, and the gap between the runs required and balls in hand widening, Dhoni kept his focus on the target. He reached there in style with those hits off Shaminda Eranga in the last over.

Former India captain K Srikkanth told dna on Friday: "It was an extraordinary knock. It reminded me of the innings he played in the World Cup final. The kind of tremendous form he is in, it was good that he got fit (for the final). He proved to be a great finisher and that is what is important."

Do these “finishers” do something different? Something special? No, tell people who have played with him. It's all in the mind, it's about confidence, they say.

Speedster Lakshmipathi Balaji, who has been the skipper's team-mate and has also bowled against him in IPL, termed Dhoni, The Finisher as "special". "What he did against Sri Lanka is not surprising. The bowlers know that as long as he is there, the match is not over. The greatest gift God has given him is mental strength. Any ground looks smaller to him when he decides to attack. He uses the crease very well. The range of shots he has, his ability to play the short ball, running between wickets, he is phenomenal. He has every aspect of a finisher. He adapts to the conditions really well and faster. He reads the conditions quicker than others. And, he knows his wicket is important. Even in the nets, he is attacking. Very rarely does he miscue."

Batsman S Badrinath, Dhoni's mate at Chennai Super Kings and who has seen the captain from close quarters in tense situations time and again, said: "His ability to take rational decisions during tight situations is something one has to admire. That he is one of the greatest finishers this game has ever seen boils down from that fact that he backs himself. Even if he takes a bit of time initially, he knows that he can finish the game. No asking rate is too high for him."

Asked if Dhoni prepares specifically to such imaginary tense situations in the nets, Badrinath said: "He prepares whatever the game demands like any other cricketer. I have not seen him prepare to specific match situations. It all boils down to the mind. He is one of the mentally tough cricketers you can find. When he goes on to the field, he is totally different person. He has the tremendous self belief that he can finish the game from any situation."

Balaji said that Dhoni does not ask him or any other bowler to bowl a specific line in the nets. He added that as a bowler, one "has to attack against Dhoni". "His wicket is important. If you bowl defensive to Dhoni, it will not help. If you let him stay till the end, he takes away the match."

Balaji, who was Dhoni's team-mate with Chennai Super Kings in the initial years before switching to Kolkata Knight Riders, said that pressure situations in IPL has made him a better finisher. "He has been doing it for many years. Every year, he is improving. He knows when to attack. He knows he can take on any run rate. IPL has helped him a lot. There is constant pressure in IPL. Playing that kind of a tournament for six years, he has adapted to every situation. Irrespective of the required run rate, he knows he can take the team home."