Former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has finally responded to critics saying that everyone has his opinion in life and they are allowed to do so and it should be respected. Critics lashed out at MS Dhoni after his show in the second T20I against New Zealand at Rajkot on November 4.
India was required to go at 13 runs per over in later stage of that game when Dhoni and Kohli were batting. Dhoni struggled to find the boundaries and rotate the strike. Hence required rate kept going up. He did manage to hit a couple of sixes though ending up scoring 49 from 37 balls but India eventually lost by 40 runs.
Former cricketers like Ajit Agarkar and VVS Laxman believe Mahendra Singh Dhoni should retire from the shortest format of the game. Only Gautam Gambhir came in support of Dhoni saying he deserves credit for what he has done for the nation.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, MSD said, “Everybody has views in life and it should be respected,” when he was asked to comment on Agarkar”s remarks.
“The biggest motivation is being a part of the Indian cricket team. You have seen cricketers who are not god-gifted, but even then, they have gone far. That”s because of the passion. The coaches need to find that out. Everybody doesn”t play for the country.”
“I have always believed that process is more important than results. I never thought about results, I always thought what is the right thing to do at that point in time whether it”s 10 runs needed, 14 runs needed or 5 runs needed. I was always so engrossed in the process that I never took the burden of thinking what if the results don”t go my way.”
When he was asked about his trademark helicopter shot and would he advise youngsters to play that, he said he won’t recommend because there is a high risk of getting injured. “It is something I learned while playing tennis ball cricket on the roads of India.
“It is difficult. In tennis ball cricket even it”s hit from the toe of the bat the ball still travels a lot but in normal cricket, it has to be the middle part of the bat, so it requires a lot of work.
“I don”t want them to play helicopter shots because they could get injured.” He further added.
MS Dhoni was in UAE for the launch of his MS Dhoni Cricket Academy. He has teamed up with Pacific Sports Club and Aarka Sports Club in this venture. Speaking about the academy, Dhoni said, “I am delighted to be a part of this venture and will contribute in every way possible to make it a success. It has been my dream to contribute to the game in every way possible. This is the first step in that direction. The enthusiasm of the trainees is what will drive this venture.”
– by Atharva Apte