Will history be kind to MS Dhoni?

It has been 11 years since MS Dhoni made a name for himself in international cricket. During this period, under his leadership, India has won the T20 World Cup, the 2011 World Cup and the Champions Trophy in 2013. In addition, he led India to Number 1 in the ICC Test rankings – a position the Men In Blue held for a little over a year. 

When Mahendra Singh Dhoni made his Test debut against the visiting Sri Lankan team in December 2005, India was still looking for a wicketkeeper who could bat. Before this, India had depended on Rahul Dravid to keep wickets in ODIs. While Parthiv Patel had shows grit while batting against Australia in the 2003-04 Test series, there was still a huge question mark regarding his wicketkeeping. 

Dhoni, who had made his limited over debut a year earlier, had hit headlines for making 148 off 123 balls against Pakistan in Visakhapatnam. That, accompanied by solid glove work ensured Dhoni a position in the Test team.

Dhoni's leadership and game style in Tests resembles a sigma graph – a slow start, where he adapted to the game, the meteoric rise, the tipping point and the gradual fall. He may not have had the greatest batting technique, but he was effective across the globe. 

Before the World Cup, Dhoni's Test record as captain was considered good. He had led India to victory against Australia in the 2008 home series. There were home wins against England, Sri Lanka (the series that made India the Number 1 Test side), another home win against Australia, as well as away wins in New Zealand and West Indies. A drawn series in South Africa just before the World Cup showed that Dhoni was an apt leader. When he lifted the cup, we thought he could do no wrong.

And then began the downward spiral.

India lost eight away Tests – four in England and four in Australia. The 2-0 home win against the West Indies in 2011 was forgotten. England then came to India and won the series 2-0 to claim the Number 1 position from the men in blue. Dhoni, however, didn't show that the losses hurt him. He stood by his team and refused to answer anything controversial during press conferences.

It's not like Dhoni had his chances to win outside India. India could have drawn in both New Zealand and South Africa, but did not capitalise from the winning positions they were in. Criticism poured in, claiming that Dhoni had his favourites and chose them over quality. The criticism turned to anger after India were humiliated in three Test matches in England after being 1-0 up after that famous Lord's victory. 

When it was announced that Virat Kohli would lead India in the first Test at the Adelaide Oval, there were cheers. People said that even if India lost, it would be an honourable defeat. That's exactly what happened. Experts pointed out that India's inability to bowl out Australia was not Kohli's fault, but due to the fact that we have a weak bowling attack. The same critics were after Dhoni's leadership during the second Test after he came back from injury. They would have called for his axing had India lost the Boxing Day Test match. 

Is Dhoni India's best captain? The answer is no. He may be effective in the shorter format of the game where there are rules about fielding restrictions and power play. Unfortunately for Dhoni, leading in the longer form is how a number of purists will rate his style. He may have begun well, but the fact is that he did not change his style. 

History may be less cruel. After all, he was the first captain to lead India to the top position in Tests. And that's what he will be remembered for the most.