India's Man of Steel
MS Dhoni's heroics at the Port-of-Spain have done little to keep critics away, as he still continues to come under fire from various quarters for "leaving things too late".
19-Jul-2013
Despite being widely regarded as "the greatest finisher of the game", MS Dhoni has not been without his share of critics and doubters. Even after his heroics in Port-of-Spain, the skipper came under fire from various quarters for "leaving things too late". Sandeep Dwivedi of the Indian Express comes out with a staunch defence for India's most successful captain.
Dhoni avoids taking risks in the period between overs 45 and 49. Apparently blind to the escalating run-rate, he protects the tail-enders by conceding dot balls or taking singles. His agenda in such games is to be alive till the final over for that all-or-nothing face-off with the death bowler. It isn't so much a gamble as a dare. By virtue of playing countless close IPL games, possessing a multi-dimensional arsenal of strokes and a mind that never panics, the odds of untying the ropes and surfacing triumphantly over the waters favour cricket's Houdini. His final-over winning shots are as precious as gold dust for fans. They also provide a popularity spike for the game and give the team, keen to make a habit of winning, a boost.