The rise of "Men in Blue"

              Match fixing controversies hit the cricketing world about a decade and a half ago. Stars turned villains. Names unheard of, came to the scene. Evolved a team, under the leadership of an instinctive and aggressive captain. Sourav Ganguly taught team India to win overseas, made youngsters believe in themselves and made them perform to make Indian team take a leap ahead. But like every other leader, Dada had to leave, passing on the mantle to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, currently the most valued brand in India. And since then, it has been a fairy tale for Indian cricket. 

Critics may crib about his technique which is not so sound. He has got no class of a Dravid or a Jayawardene nor the impact of a Sachin or a Ponting but still he is dominant in his own way with the bat. With his unorthodox hitting he can be a nightmare to bowlers around the world. Dhoni, the batsman always had ups and down but keeps coming up with awe inspiring when the odds are against him. Obviously for a goal-keeper turned wicket-keeper, his acrobatics are stunning on field. He has given captaincy and leadership a new meaning. Not being conventional is his strength. Though some of his decisions on field are hard to understand by cricketing logic, they do come off more often than not. It is this tenacity and gut feeling that has made MSD unique and successful. Promptly put forth by a brand he endorses - "To be successful, you need to be different". But for someone who has led Indian team to glory in all the formats, the recent allegations levelled at him could have probably hurt him, for he is a human too. But as always like a true leader, he marshalled his boys and gave them his trust and support and eventually won. The manner in which Dhoni pumped his fist after CT win showed what the triumph meant to the otherwise composed skipper. 

The extent of Dhoni's achievements has now gone beyond even the best of best could possibly aspire for. It makes him, in terms of success, modern-day cricket's greatest captain. In the last 5 years or so, he has led the Indian team to more highs than lows marked by significant winnings. T20 WC in 2007, ODI WC in 2011 -  a second one for India, Champions Trophy in 2013.  Add to this, topping the charts in Tests and ODIs on the way. He has left no stone unturned. The only trophy that he doesn't have under his belt - Ranji. No better way to stamp one's authority and dominance. This can be termed as conquering at it's best. Then there is always a debate on whether the team or the captain should be accountable for wins and losses. "Good teams make good captains" say some, while a few others differ saying, "Good captains make good teams". Either way, Team India and MSD have become synonymous in reaching the pinnacle. The Men in Blue are on the rise and for years to come, we may hope that this purple patch continues. Rest assured, Team India is well on course to lift  the WC in 2015 with a young and enthusiastic bunch.

-DC