That is what seems to be the anthem. Dhoni, like V.V.S. Laxman, must consider Australia his favourite opponent and the Australians, in turn, beginning to think that India has produced yet another nemesis.
Laxman’s heroics have already been encapsulated for benefit of recent readers and followers of the sport. Now it appears Australia will know another thorn in the flesh has arisen in the sub continent dust bowls and this one is not about to disappear any time soon. The axe of retirement was hanging perilously on Laxman’s head, especially as India contemplated playing three spinners in Delhi. As it turned out, Laxman could count on his old foes to help him chalk up another sterling innings.
But the Australians have a bigger axe to grind. While it would seem unimaginable than there could be a bigger pain in the neck for the Australians that Laxman himself, India have found another invaluable peg against Australia, Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Nobody can forget the euphoria that followed India’s win in the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa. On that occasion, India also defeated Australia before claiming their crown. It was also perhaps the biggest key factor and the seed that saw the birth of monkey gate. Sydney is where the fiasco actually happened, but India was where the smarting Australians first took Harbhajan Singh for their sledging target and ended up with more than they could chew.
But that was not the end of it, certainly not winning the Test series against an infuriated Indian Test side led by a dignified Anil Kumble. The Commonwealth Bank series (CB) proved the further sharpening of the future relations between the two teams. Young India once again proved their detractors wrong, showed Australia that they could undermine an inexperienced Indian side only at their own peril. Once again it was Dhoni at the helm and the team came home to wild celebrations from the BCCI themselves, that also incurred the wrath of other fellow sportsmen in the country who were not as fortunate to be felicitated with such pomp and extravaganza, not to mention prize money, for their feats.
When Australia embarked on this tour, they presented a rather more facile opposition than expected, even as expectations were lowered keeping the strengths of the Australian side. But the early indications were already clear when Dhoni was briefly in charge on the field during the first Test while one felt the match had dulled when Kumble was leading the side.
Dhoni was the skipper willing to make things happen on the field and the result of the Mohali Test was then not in doubt. Kumble returned for the third Test in Delhi but it was obvious that his time, at least captain, was over though perhaps his pedigree as a bowler would see him for one more home series. As it turned out, Kumble took the cue, bowed out gracefully and handed the reins to the man most ideal for the job in the present time.
Dhoni showed his versatility in deploying rather defensive tactics to rein in the Australians on the fourth Test. While versatility may seem like a wrong word, it has to be remembered that Ricky Ponting’s captaincy, on this tour, was not particularly innovative or responsive to the situations. Very delayed tactics, some errors of judgement and a defeatist approach seemed to mark his moves in India. In contrast, Dhoni showed that while he was willing to take two strides instead of one when his team was on a high, but that he was just as pragmatic to bolt the door when his bowlers were non responsive. And the rewards once again came his way.
There has to be a luck factor to every story. Dhoni cannot call aggression his calling card. That belongs to Sourav Ganguly. But what he has brought to the team is the inspired ability to make it happen and that too in cool, unassuming fashion. He has showed that luck can be made; he may have been fortunate that the Indians batsmen fired and the bowlers were sterling for India to trounce Australia 2-0 in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Some may call this beginner’s luck. But there is no denying that Dhoni has shown a rather large appetite for big catch and his initiation days as captain in all three formats of the game have been extraordinarily successful for team India. Three famous victory, one captain’s hand behind it. Beautiful stories cannot be scripted any better.
Do read:
EXHIBIT NO. 167 : V V S LAXMAN
India Australia Test Cricket - Does It Get Any Better Than This?
Gilly’s Deccan Chargers? VVS Should Know!
Choosing When the Axe Must Fall
