Oh Gerrard, my Gerrard!

What a secure man Mahendra Singh Dhoni is. Before the third Test began in Wellington on Friday, Indian skipper’s back was the subject of much debate. India had managed a great escape in Napier. Dhoni’s Midas touch was terribly missed. But when questioned on his availability for the final game, Dhoni’s nonchalant response was, “I don’t think I am that type of a player on whom the team relies a lot. Me playing or not playing, the team is not too bothered about it. It doesn’t have a big impact on the team.”

To say that about your place in the most coveted 11 of the world, you’ve got to be either overflowing with confidence or just plain stupid. Dhoni knows he is the undisputed leader of this bunch and there’s no shaking that in a long time.

In fact, Dhoni reminds me almost of Steven Gerrard. I know cricket and football are as different as Barrack Obama and George Bush. But it’s a habit I can’t let go off. Comparisons and lists - of 10 greatest books, best beaches, most handsome footballers and so on — is my thing to do.

Like India without Dhoni appeared clueless for most part of the second Test, Liverpool without Gerrard are often a bundle of nerves. But, I can hear Gerrard say the same thing — Me playing or not playing, the team is not too bothered about it — in his Merseyside accent if injury sidelines him from an important game.

Captaincy, in football, isn’t given as much importance as in cricket. There’s only so much you can do. The game moves at a fast pace giving very little scope for planning and executing. Plans and tactics are pre-thought out on the drawing board. Role of a captain is almost negligible, restricted to calling the right side of the coin at the toss, and lifting the trophy after a tournament is won.

Sometimes you see as many as three players wear the captain’s armband within 90 minutes. But with Gerrard, it’s been different. He succeeded Sami Hyypia as Liverpool captain in 2003 and has been an inspiration in the role. During the 2005 Champions League final between Liverpool and AC Milan, the Reds were down 0-3 by half-time and game seemed almost over. When they came back on after the break, all eyes seemed to be focused on one man. Cameras zoomed in on Gerrard, commentators spoke of his abilities, almost urging him to make a match of it.

And sure enough, Gerrard set the ball rolling. In the 54th minute, he headed in John Arne Riise’s cross and then began the most dramatic game in the history of European competitions. Liverpool won of course, after a shootout.

I firmly believe that if it hadn’t been for Gerrard, Istanbul 2005 would have been just another one-sided final. He was like a motivational speech with football boots.
This Wednesday Liverpool play Chelsea in the Champions League. I wish for nothing more than a Chelsea win. But Liverpool are playing like a dream. And they have the ex-factor too —- Steven Gerrard is playing.