Kolkata: He is back and back at the most appropriate juncture. We are talking about two-time World Cup-winning skipper MS Dhoni who has been entrusted with the responsibility of mentoring Team India for ICCT20 World Cup. You may scoff at this as a mere conjecture, but trust us, the happiest at Dhoni’s comeback into the Indian dressing room would be captain Virat Kohli.
Leave aside the canards of a Dhoni-Kohli rift in the past which only added gist to rumour mills with no veracity, there’s no repudiating the fact that the Delhi lad emerged on the big scene under the aegis of the man from Jharkhand. The flamboyance and reported philandering turned out to be a thing of the past, as Kohli recharged his batteries to burst as an indispensable part of the team across formats.
And deep down, it was the Dhoni factor that rejuvenated Kohli’s career. And guess what, Dhoni renters the fray at a time when King Kohli may be on a high as a leader but is found wanting when it comes to amassing big scores. Add to it, Kohli’s abject failure in laying his hands on a coveted ICC Trophy.
Kohli would endorse the pivotal role Dhoni played in grooming him as a leader as well. Be it on or off the field, the swashbuckling batsman-stumper nourished a raw Kohli transform into a mature leader of eminence.
Dhoni’s experience would also help burying of subtle hatchets within the rank and file of the Indian team. Though not palpable, a clandestine attempt to create an anti-Kohli camp is conspicuous if you have an objective look at the cricketers’ social media posts.
In comes the Mahi aura which has always cracked down on even an iota of feuds within the family during his stint at the helm of Indian cricket.
Without dragging it further, a huge round of applause for the BCCI which has been able to convince a reticent Dhoni to take up the gauntlet on behalf of the side as a guardian. Knowing Dhoni, he would be content being behind the scene and not intruding into the captain’s sphere. But it would be left to the captain to hold his cool and not get perturbed by Dhoni loyalists within the side if at all they start counting on the mentor more than the captain.
In Indian cricket, anything is plausible, but the Kohli-Dhoni jodi which has collaborated to take Indian cricket to new heights must steer clear of all aberrations and revive the past magic in the larger interest of Indian cricket.
By the way, is Dhoni’s appointment a strong message to head coach Ravi Shastri? Keep pondering guys!
