MS Dhoni, the self-taught technician

MS Dhoni.....respect.

              MS Dhoni, a name synonymous with the act of dispatching cliffhangers with ease. He is renowned in India for the aforementioned acts, something which seems to be a commonplace in the fifty-over arena. He has left his erstwhile image of the flamboyant cricketer in terms of captaincy. Captaincy of course is the discipline where Dhoni's idea and tactics often are rebuffed by the well established practitioners. He is indeed bizarre in that regard, Defensive? Yep, maybe you can conclude as well. Nimble wicket-keeper against the spinners, not so much against the pacers. So, you might be wondering why have i mentioned all these? Well, just to show that Dhoni's presence on the international is chequered to a certain degree. However, there is one aspect of his game which i find superb, his batting.
          He swats the white ball like flies, especially in the 'death overs' of the fifty-over game, where he averages 50+ comfortably which also includes being a full time wicket keeper and captain. But its not this format that makes him noteworthy for me. Its the five-day game,test cricket which draws the light. His average in test cricket is around that 38 mark. Given his iffy technique, his ability to mount last-man stands recently is quite remarkable. He has played nearly 90 tests, far more talented and technically gifted players have played far lesser than the number mentioned. So what make MS different?, its his tenacity and the inner street-fighter which he channelled during the last trip to England. Dhoni, more so in the recent past, has turned into a more doughty character, i guess the constant upbraid from the Indian media doesn't really affect him now.
          He not an engineer of hundreds like his more illustrious compatriots of the recent past. He is the resident technician, someone who does dirty work when things turn horrid, more often of late. He stands his ground, he lets the red cricket ball crash into his elbow and still looks stoic. He takes the rising delivery on the chest. He waits for his time, when he eyes a window, he latches and then subsequently dispatches the cricket ball. His bespoke technique is admirable, after all, it is self-taught. He has his own technique, unlikely to found through a cricket manual no matter hard you pore over it. Dhoni filled the ullage in his container of talent, with the grains of grit. Knowing your limitations can go a long way to mastering your own expectations, he is one of the prime examples in that regard. MS Dhoni, Respect.