Why does batman wear a mask? To protect the ones he cares about from danger as he’s bound to make enemies. Similarly, MSD wears a mask of utter peace, which is backed by a calm rage, a subtle storm that’s raging inside. Not once can we see MSD emoting on the field, does it mean he’s emotionless? Does it mean that he has no feelings? Absolutely not, feelings are one way to expose yourself to a whole new range of artillery called emotional attack. Prying on emotions, calculating feelings has become a new age technology for finding out what one is thinking about. A leader of MSD’s caliber knows better than to unnecessarily emote, his face gives away nothing, for all you know he may be breaking on the inside, filling up with anger, sadness, happiness, but you will NEVER truly know, for its the mask of utter nonchalance that characterises what dhoni is made of. Nerves filled with fighting spirit, eyes determined and sharp that one gaze and You’ll be split in two, a calm that blows like the storm, looks like the spring, a face so expressionless that’ll have you guessing your guts out, this is what MSD is made of.
It is funny that I started of by taking batman as the example to elaborate on MSD, because MSD and batman have so much in common, just as batman saves the day, and when all goes down takes the blame and still remains the same, just and strong as ever, it is the same as far as MSD Is concerned, limelight has never interested the man, sometimes it makes me wonder whether he’s a man or a saint dressed like a cricketer? How can someone be so selfless? Gives it all when the chips are down, takes the burden of criticism on his shoulders, wins matches singlehandedly and still is called SELFISH. One can never see MSD on the frontline when the team wins, but, when the team loses he steps up casually, takes the blame and rubs it off very coolly.
Finding people like Dhoni is very difficult, giving it everything he’s got for the team and not expecting anything in return. He’s not just a captain, he’s much more. An inspiration, a celebration, an era of amazing captaincy has been woven into the very fabric of cricket by MSD. His legacy will be etched on golden tablets and will be publicised for years to come, but still even then, you can’t expect a reaction from Dhoni. He’s not just a captain, he’s a silent guardian, a watchful protector, a dark knight.