Dhoni: Mr Perfect

In his gestures over the last few days, MS Dhoni has shown tremendous respect for the legends of Indian cricket

NAGPUR: Mahendra Singh Dhoni has an immense sense of occasion. The wrapping up of the series against Australia 2-0 here in Nagpur could be the finest moment in his short career as Test captain. But he knew the game's importance also lay in it being Sourav Ganguly's last for India.

To make Dada's last day on the field memorable, Dhoni asked him to captain the side for five overs, towards the end of the match. The game had already been won, with Australia nine wickets down. Touched by the gesture, Sourav obliged, setting the field and instructing the bowlers. “I was already switched off. He woke me up and I didn't know what was happening. Luckily it was already nine down. I did it for two-three overs and told him it's his job,” Sourav said.

Earlier, as the occasion deemed, he let Sourav Ganguly lead the team onto the pitch in the morning. Dhoni shared hugs and encouraging pats on the back with India's most successful captain as he began his last day of international cricket.

Not just here in Nagpur, but even in Delhi it was on Dhoni's shoulders that Anil Kumble covered a part of the distance of the Feroz Shah Kotla, doing a lap of honour for the crowd who had assembled to bid him farewell.

Anil Kumble was here in Nagpur with the team. On Monday, when Dhoni was asked to come up to receive the Border-Gavaskar trophy, the Indian captain insisted that Kumble comes with him too. After Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border made the presentation, Dhoni let Kumble hold aloft the prize and take it to the waiting teammates.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's rustic style maybe incongruous in the gentleman's game. But his goal-oriented approach means India's future is in safe hands. He knows that cricket in India is understood from the heart. He feels the pulse of the people. In his gestures over the last few days, he has shown tremendous respect and love for the legends of Indian cricket.

Sometimes a talented bunch of individuals may not achieve greatness, unless they are put into the hands of a good man-manager. Dhoni is that man.

Sourav Ganguly, India's most successful captain, agrees. “I was a captain who would never believe a lot on the drawing board. I see a lot of that in MSD. He doesn't believe in team meetings and all. He does what he sees on the field,” Ganguly said. “Dhoni has done well so far. He has got the ability to take Indian cricket forward. Captaincy is spark. It's not just preparation and not just being a good player and doing the homework. You must have spark on the field and I think MS has that. He has got that extra bit of luck, which you require in captaincy.”