One of the privileges of growing in India is the inescapable affection for the sport of Cricket. It\u2019s fascinating to see how a game we took up to show up colonialism has evolved into a thread weaving generations, classes and communities together. This love, and on a simpler level-awareness has percolated so seamlessly within us, that even if we don\u2019t understand or like the intricate and technical dynamics of the sport, we all feel connected to
the women and men playing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rush of seeing someone live out their dreams, the anticipation and sense of victory that comes along with it is something very personal to an athlete, yet we get to share a peek into their moment. We form a bond more special than any, and that is what makes \u2018goodbye\u2019 so difficult. But this goodbye is also very bittersweet; it is almost like welcoming back a battle-hardened soldier, it is like giving a tap on his shoulder and saying, \u201cYou did it, now come back and rest a little\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
India has been immensely fortunate to have had some great cricketers who carry her name on themselves. Sunil Gavaskar, Virendra Sehwag, Kapil Dev, Mithali Raj, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly are few who find their names etched in gold. What makes Mahendra Singh Dhoni especially unique is his purity. Dare I say, he defined what it means to be a \u2018captain\u2019 in situations where you might just want to ride it out. It took real character and spirit to rise and take the reins in the moments when hope was dying. It is hard to miss his exemplary leadership that brought us the 2011 ICC World Cup and his fight to earn us that spot in the 2019 championships. The world could collapse in front of us, and as long as we knew that Dhoni was next to bat, we\u2019d be safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many athletes practice wearing their emotions on their sleeves, they train themselves to ride through that gush of adrenaline and achieve greatness, but those who appear cold on the outside and harness an entire furnace within them become unforgettable. Such an athlete then becomes the poster boy for \u2018sportsmanship\u2019 and \u2018control\u2019. Our beloved captain was
certainly one of them, similar to what Roger Federer is to tennis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n