Why Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Boots Seem Too Big to Fill
With close to 13,000 international runs and counting, over 500 catches and 100-plus stumpings, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is destined to go down as one of the greatest players to have represented India.
The 'exciting' loss to Australia in the Adelaide Test in December 2014 gave a sneak peek into two crucial aspects of Indian cricket's future. First, the team will always be on its toes and no target will be considered too big to chase under Virat Kohli and No. 2, that Mahendra Singh Dhoni's boots are too huge to fill. (Happy Birthday MSD)
It was a classic case of nerves as Wriddhiman Saha - Dhoni's replacement - attempted one shot too many and perished, leaving his skipper Kohli stranded at the other end. Kohli fell soon after and Australia recorded a 48-run win after a cliff-hanger-of-a-Day-5. (Dhoni Quitting Forced Selectors to Hand Kohli Test Captaincy: Wadekar)
Australia took the quintessential lead in the series while Kohli had to contend with the praise and accolades for playing some audacious cricket.
A fortnight since that 'entertaining' game of cricket, Dhoni stood like a rock to defy Steve Smith's Australia in Melbourne. In a mammoth chase of 384, Dhoni and Ravichandran Ashwin played out the tricky final hour after Australia made serious in-roads in the final session of the Test. (Tendulkar Leads Barrage of Birthday Wishes for Dhoni)
From Kohli's aggression in Adelaide, India quickly transcended into the pragmatic ways of Dhoni in Melbourne. The match ended in a draw and Dhoni silently but quite unexpectedly parted ways with his white flannels.
Dhoni's replacement Saha has solid first-class numbers to show for but it's the temperament that puts Dhoni on an unbelievably high pedestal. In a line-up of batsmen who struggle away from home, Dhoni's 18 fifties and a hundred at an average of 32.84 in 48 away Tests while batting in the lower-middle order is commendable. (Kohli and Dhoni Have 'Tremendous' Mutual Respect: Shastri)
Saha, the 30-year-old Bengal keeper, has a few home series' to build his confidence, get some runs and get used to life behind the stumps for India but comparisons with his worthy predecessor will constantly ramp up the pressure. Can Saha overcome that and manage to slip into Dhoni's boots successfully? We will have to wait and watch. At the moment, though, it seems like an arduous task.
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While Saha bears the brunt in Tests, Dhoni's limited-overs replacement, who could walk into the side in 2016, will find life much tougher.
Beyond his leadership skills, Dhoni has evolved from the long-brown-haired free-spirited batsman to one of the finest finishers of the game. Along the years, he's played several roles in the side with the bat and has adapted to various situations with perfection. With 8,620 runs in 265 ODIs so far, at a phenomenal average of 52, Dhoni is destined go down as one of the greats of Indian cricket.
Naman Ojha, Robin Uthappa and the young Sanju Samson, who will tussle for the keeper's post, will have to fill huge craters after Dhoni's eventual departure. Kohli's meteoric rise as a limited-overs batsman has eased the need to find the 'next Sachin Tendulkar' but is there a 'next Dhoni' in the near future?
The likes of Uthappa, Ojha and Samson will also have to be mindful of Dhoni's contribution behind the stumps.
Dhoni's numbers -- 246 catches, 85 stumpings in 265 ODIs -- don't give you the complete picture of his ability to innovate behind the stumps. Over the years, Dhoni has closed down the margin between a close shave and a clear-cut run out with his skillful ways deflecting a throw onto the stumps. His swiftness with the gloves has also earned him rich praise and dividends.
If Adam Gilchrist revolutionized the role of a modern-day wicketkeeper-batsman, Dhoni has set the bench mark for the position in India. Between the eras of two specialist keepers in Nayan Mongia (1994-2001) and Dhoni (2005-present), India have tried several options like Samir Dighe, Vijay Dahiya, Saba Karim, Ajay Ratra, MSK Prasad, Deep Dasgupta, Parthiv Patel and even Rahul Dravid.
Dhoni's arrival in 2005 solved a long-standing grey area but his impending departure has the potential of taking the team back to square one.