With an hour to go for the third ODI between India and West Indies to begin here, MS Dhoni was giving some wicket-keeping tips to young Rishabh Pant.
Nothing unusual about it — seniors are known to guide youngsters. However, what made it noteworthy is that just the night before, the former India captain and wicket-keeper was dropped from the India’s T20I squad for three-match series each against West Indies and in Australia.
It is for the first time that the word dropped is being associated with Dhoni ever since he burst into the top flight cricket.
The selection committee chief MSK Prasad’s reply to the question – Is Dhoni’s T20 career over? – was a big ‘NO’. He said the management wants to try out options in Pant and Dinesh Karthik.
If read between the lines, then there is no reason for Dhoni to stick around playing T20 cricket anymore with the next World T20 to be held in 2020.
The immediate focus, however, is the 2019 World Cup in England which is only months away.
So by offering tips to the youngster who might replace him in near future, Dhoni stamped why is considered one of the greatest and the coolest.
Mere mortals would have crumbled, might have left challengers to fend for themselves, but not for nothing is Dhoni known as the ultimate team man, the ultimate leader.
It was reminiscent of 2011 when after winning the World Cup, Dhoni received the trophy, gave it to his teammates and quietly left the spotlight as celebrations ensued.
However, it is unlikely that Dhoni wasn’t consulted before selectors took the big decision. And if he wasn’t, he didn’t let it show what he was thinking.
To predict what is going on in Dhoni’s mind is futile. On Saturday, His face did not betray it if he did feel tense, disappointed or dejected.
He stayed the typical Dhoni, like he does any other day. Calm, composed and relaxed.
Even the extraordinary aerial catch coming off West Indian opener Chanderpaul Hemraj’s top edge that saw him run towards the fine leg direction and dive full stretch, just saw a mild celebration. But many called it — Dhoni’s answer to Prasad that he is still there and fit to play around.
The one of Marlon Samuels off Khaleel Ahmed was a regulation catch behind the wicket and the in-form Shimron Hetmyer’s stumping in Kuldeep Yadav’s over was as lightning as ever he has been doing.
There have been serious questions posed off late about Dhoni’s form with the bat. He isn’t what he used to be.
Having been tried at various positions in the middle-order in recent times, Dhoni has hardly been able to impress. Forget match-winning knocks, it has been a battle of survival for him between the 22-yards.
His last match-winning innings came in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings, where he scored 70 off 34 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Rest, the Indian cricketer has performed below par with the bat in the coloured format.
To think of, Dhoni is someone who will not continue if he is not in shape or in that frame of mind. He did so in Test cricket — retiring from the format in 2015 in Australia, when he was still in his prime.
Today, Dhoni being Dhoni might make his peace with being dropped and continue with the ODIs. He is unflappable.
However, there aren’t many who are ready to be convinced with his sudden exclusion. “Did the selectors speak to Dhoni? He looks fit and can still play more. You cannot drop a player like him like without talking to him,” said a former India cricketer.
All in all, this could be end to Dhoni’s T20 career, but it could also be the selectors’ message to the stalwart that he is under the lens and he better pull up his socks in the 50-over format as well.
The whole saga confirms that no one is indispensable and that Dhoni, after all, is human.
