IN SPOTLIGHT

 

WHETHER he performs or not is immaterial. The spotlight refuses to leave Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The talismanic former Indian captain, playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL)is a hot topic of debate yet again. This time it is not his trademark helicopter shot or his six-hitting spree but the absence of those shots from his repertoire that is putting Dhoni under intense scrutiny. Many are finding his end in the IPL while some are still hoping that the Dhoni magic will be at work soon. The man is still a favourite -- of his fans as well as his critics.

 

Dhoni’s recent performances have been dissected threadbare by fans and cricket pundits on air as well as on the social media. The glaring deficiency being pointed out is the World Cup winning captain’s poor strike rate and his tendency to take a game deep into the end overs. Both are being flagged as blunders in the present form of Twenty20 cricket where big scores are a new normal and going hammer and tongs from the first ball is the clear dictum. While the regular calls for retirement of the legendary cricketer are doing rounds on various platforms, what is intriguing this time is the peculiar tactics Dhoni is employing in the initial games. It has clearly put the Chennai Super Kings under a lot of pressure as they have three defeats from four games. Most importantly, the team’s citadel -- Chepauk -- is being regularly broken by their opponents. All this has come to haunt Mahendra Singh Dhoni, yet again! Then again, this has been the regular story with the iconic keeper-batsman since his retirement from international cricket.

 

Every season of the IPL brings with it the big question about Dhoni’s availability and every season ends with a bigger fascination about his next move. Playing true to his character, Dhoni has always kept the teams and fans guessing over his future with the CSK. He appears in the yellow outfit with the same confidence and carries it along the tournament giving a glimpse of his vintage form. The cricketing world is now a regular witness of this annual show.

 

However, the present conditions are different for Dhoni as well as his team. And hence the bigger scrutiny of his form, his tactics, and his failures. The fans are furious with Dhoni’s approach this time. In the game against Delhi Capitals his slow batting drew a lot of criticism as the netizens jumped on the retirement rumours. In the earlier game, Dhoni’s decision to come too late in a stiff chase raised many eyebrows. It was unlike Dhoni but then there were reasons, which coach Stephen Fleming explained, that forced the rare move. Going by the ire he is drawing from the fans and the unease in the CSK administration, a big decision is likely in this season from Dhoni. The master of timing might still find a last hurrah before bowing out from the game and yet again attract the spotlight.