An open letter to Dear Captain Cool....

Dear captain cool,

Starting with a quote of the great Sunil Gavaskar – “If tomorrow he has to say goodbye to all the trappings of fame, Dhoni will calmly get on his motorbike and go away. He is that rarity who treats both those impostors – wins and losses – in the same way. He simply plays the game”.

If something defines MSD in a single line, it has to be the above quote. In a cricket-frenzy nation, I bet most of you can go on and on about the achievements of MSD – The Cricketer. But he is my inspiration not only because of his laurels in cricket, majorly it is because of the kind of person he is, both on the field and off the field. Dhoni has an arsenal of leadership skills that can be applied to not only people but also to businesses.🔥

A leader makes an impact and inspires. M.S. Dhoni exemplified these qualities.💕

His tact and calm persona made a significant impact on the entire team intense situations resulting in victories. He stood by his players and gave individual attention and positively influenced them. One can only lead by example and Dhoni’s journey as a cricketer and captain is an inspiration.🤍

For the World. He is M.S.Dhoni🤍 But for MSDIANS, He is The World!

The reasons why he is my inspiration is because of the following qualities:

Calmness :

We always talk about staying calm under pressure and keep on preaching it, but it is easier said than done. But for Dhoni, the pressure situation is just like another day in the office. No matter what the situation is, MSD is the coolest person you could find on the cricket field. You’ll never find him succumb to the pressure and the thing that makes him special is his ability to make rational decisions in tough situations. In our life also, we encounter numerous pressure situations and the only thing that matters is how we react to such situations.💖

Miss those chants…🔥🔥 Dhoni Dhoni Dhoni…❤❤❤

‎Process-Oriented Approach:

MSD has always said that the process is greater than the event. He always believes that if the process is done wholeheartedly and with the right intent, then the results will fall into place one or the other day. Currently, in the Indian Cricket Team, which is dominating all over the world, almost all of the members of the team were groomed under MSD’s captaincy. So, that speaks a lot about the quality of the process that took place under Dhoni.💗

Staying Grounded:

Dhoni won fame and money at an early stage in his career but he was and still is, humble and modest. He knows that losing and winning are part and parcel of the game. Even after achieving everything in world cricket, he never lost his ground and that’s why he is one of the most respectable cricketers in the world. One should learn to acknowledge success, accept failures, and bounce back.💓

You’ll never find MSD take the credit for the team’s victory. Be it in the interviews, post-match presentations, or press conferences, he never boasts about himself, rather he talks about the team effort. This is necessary to bring out the confidence in team members, make them feel secure, and inspire them to perform.💞

Competitor respect:

In a sport as in business or any other field, you know you have achieved a milestone when your opponents take you seriously and allow themselves to show a degree of respect to you. Dhoni has made that happen by his consistent, calm behavior.💕

‎Leading from the front:

There is a reason why MSD is known as the Best Finisher in the game. He has won so many games for India, as well as the franchise which he plays for in the IPL, Chennai Super Kings, single-handedly. A team leader should be able to lead by example especially when the team needs the most. No one can forget the inning played by MSD in the 2011 World Cup Final at Wankhede, Mumbai. He rose to the occasion and played a decisive role in the victory. ❤️

“Gonna tell my kids that this shot made 130 crore Indians celebrate❤”

Accept your failures and learn from them:

Dhoni was a cricket sensation in his school and everyone used to shower him with praise. However, when he didn’t make it to the U-19 team, everyone around him was disappointed, but, Dhoni decided to throw a party. Why? Because he appreciated the reality check of the snub and worked harder to get to where is now.

Never shy away from hard work:

Dhoni used to finish his 3-hour-long examination in just 2 hours 30 minutes to go and practice with his club. He managed his studies and his passion together. Even after getting a full-time job, he never missed a practice session and that too after toiling hard at the railway station every day.

It’s okay to feel disheartened sometimes:

Dhoni did everything he could to make it to the Indian team, but, in the beginning, things just did not work out for him. He was obviously disheartened but he didn’t give up. He kept going until he finally made it to the playing eleven of the men in blue.

Leave your comfort zone if you want to achieve something extraordinary:

Dhoni had a permanent government job. His family was happy and he could have lived a well-off life too. But, he took a giant leap instead. He took the risk because he didn’t want to live a regular life.

Your failures are actually an opportunity to learn more ~MSD

Don’t care about what others will say and always follow your heart:

Don’t ever overthink things too much and do what makes you happy. Dhoni never cared about what people would say. He traveled all the way to Delhi to meet his then-girlfriend and later went to Aurangabad by road to spend some time with Sakshi. He was carefree and undeterred even after regular media interference.

Don’t let your personal life distract you from your professional life:

Just before an all-important Pakistan series, Dhoni’s late girlfriend asked, “Will you miss me?”, he said, “No, that will distract me.” It’s tough but if you want to give your 100%, you have to have a clear head. He was firm and cool-headed, even after the sudden and tragic demise of his girlfriend.

Don’t let go of your loyal friends, they are everything you need:

MSD had talent, but, talent alone wasn’t able to take him to the pinnacle. The support of his loved ones was almost indispensable. Cricket was something for which his friends supported him more than his family ever could. He was also always there for them and didn’t forget them even after becoming a star.

Dhoni’s foresight and evaluation are commendable. He believed in Virat Kohli’s capabilities and gave him enough time to ease into the role of captain in Tests. Now that Virat has proven himself as a leader, this was the perfect time for Dhoni to hand over complete control to the successor. He has no qualms about being under Kohli’s captaincy. This in itself shows his character. By allowing Kohli to call the shots and yet be accessible to him for advice, will surely help India immensely.

“It must be my power, the bat speed I generate, and the swing of the bat…” ~MSD

MSD is as calm and unruffled as a sportsman on the field as he is self-effacing off it. But ‘brute strength’, ‘murderous form’ and ‘a man possessed’ were some of the phrases that came to mind when, on 5th April 2005 in Visakhapatnam, he exploded onto international consciousness by becoming the first regular Indian keeper to score a one-day century. On that day, ‘Mahi’ Dhoni transformed from a boy hailing from an obscure small town to a sports legend with the aura of a Rock-star.

2005 – HS by a keeper 💟

2006 – No.1 batsman💯❣️

2007 – Khel Ratna 💥🔥

2008 – Player of the Year🤍

2009- POY, PADMA SHRI 💓

2011- LtColonel, H Doctorate,💫

2012- Successful IND captain💯

2013- ICC People’s choice award💗

2016- Biopic ❤️

2018- Padmabhushan ✨

2019 – Dhoni Pavilion🔥

Dhoni has a simple theory about leadership. Speaking to sports psychologist Dr. Rudi Webster for his book, ‘Think Like A Champion’, Dhoni says, “The captain must lead by example to gain trust, respect and support his team. The people I lead carry the expectations of 1.2 billion people. So, I help them by keeping everything as simple as possible and by creating an atmosphere that will give confidence and motivation to each and everyone to do his best.”

You are the reason behind millions of smiles, you have been the reason why millions have not stopped dreaming. Whenever you walk on the field you are the reason behind millions of hope and assurance. It was not only you who played cricket.. but even the billions out there. 7th July and jersey no. 7 are inscribed in our minds with a lot of emotions.

No 7 is Just a Number Until DHONI was Born💎

Whenever someone talks about cricket it’s always your name that gets popped up in my mind – MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI..! From copying your hairstyle of long hair to following your life journey, I have remained your biggest aficionado!

“YOU ARE THE TAJ MAHAL OF INDIAN CRICKET TEAM AND WILL BE A REFERENCE POINT FOR CENTURIES”.

India needs you… Cricket needs you. More than 15 years down you have been ruling hearts. No matter how much you score in any match, we’ll always remain your loyal fans. Equanimity is your biggest asset and you are just beyond irreplaceable! You are indeed gifted with a Midas touch.

15 years of Dhoni Era❤ Many players will come and go but nobody can replace you…

You’ve always made well-thought-out decisions with the best interest of Indian cricket in your mind. When it comes to ‘Captain Cool’, we need to read between the lines and understand the implications. you indicated that you wouldn’t want to be a liability to the team by blocking the position of wicketkeeping for a promising youngster. Though Dhoni is still invaluable to the team, he will not hesitate to retire if he feels that’s the best for the team.

From a timid lad hailing from Jharkhand to becoming one of the most successful captains, your journey has not been a cakewalk. From trying to please your father by working in Indian Railways to finally chasing your dreams, you are a true role model.

In your debut match on an international level against Bangladesh to maybe playing the WC for the last time, you have been a personification of talent, strength, courage. You are truly one of the best players to take the field.

“A lot of captains will come and go but it will be very difficult to break the captaincy records set by DHONI” ~ Gambhir

“To just commercially evaluate MSD will be an act of Blasphemy towards Indian Cricket. YOU for sure a new chapter in the epic of Cricket”.

“MSD is the Bahubali of the Indian Cricket Team and he’s priceless…”

How can we forget your signature shot! You finishing the game in a Mahi-way and dignifying your way behind the stumps has made us stunned every time. CSK is just not a team, it’s an emotion. From winning many tournaments, breaking many world records you remain the most humble and coolest players of the time.

Not 4g Not 5g Only DHONI JI.💯🔥 Fastest Wicket Keeper Ever In History.

From not wanting to play with a ‘Chota ball’ we have also seen your love for football and badminton. From maintaining your love – army, you conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel. From buying your first bike with your own money to now having a wondrous bike museum, you are truly a motorcycle fanatic.

From losing your first love and also handling up yourself in other complex situations, you emerged out as a champion. You are not only a loving husband but have also been a great father along with rocking the cricket pitch every time. You are a true gentleman.

“Legacy is not what’s left tomorrow when you are gone, it’s what you give, create, impact, and contribute today while you are here that then happens to live on.” M.S. Dhoni surely seems to believe in this mantra. His unparalleled legacy and character are an inspiration to all.

I have always wondered about the skill and the frequency at which the electronic signals in your brain tread a path. How are you able to keep calm during such immense scrutiny? People say “Dhoni is cool as a cucumber” And in the twilight of it all, what stands out is not just the success. It is the dignity with which all of it was achieved.

Recounting the times that you have made the nation proud will simply take too long and I won’t attempt to do that. But more than the trophies, the record-breaking wins, and the whitewashes, one thing that will be etched long in the memories of every Indian fan will be the winning mentality that you brought to the team.

If anyone asks you what has MSD❣️ achieved –
When he became Run out for first time , He cried alone.
When he became Run out for the last time , there were millions crying with him 😭❣️

I cannot inherent your supernatural batting abilities. The helicopter shot or even the towering sixes over long-on/off, I just wished I could possess some of your coolness and unbelievable decision-making abilities. To give the final over of the 2007 T20 final to Joginder Sharma, or to promote yourself ahead of the inform Yuvraj Singh in the 2011 final, defines class and boldness.

We can try 🔍ing, but there isn't going to be anyone like you @msdhoni.

— Google India (@GoogleIndia) August 16, 2020

Yes, there have been times when you have failed. Moments where you have failed to take us over the line. The runout vs Newzealand in the semifinal of the world cup 2019. That day, we could see you crying. You are not someone who shows his emotions on the field, but that day even you couldn’t control. Mahi, the entire nation cried with you. We believed because of you. And ever so long you continue to play, we will keep believing in miracles and last ball six finishes.

You made us dominant. You gave us what we most craved for. The only captain to win the 3 ICC trophies. Today on your 40th birthday, I tune into my phone to watch the highlights of the world cup final and hear it one more time, “Dhoni finishes off in style, India wins the World Cup after 28 years”.

Today is a lot more than just a day. With social media flooded with stories and tweets full of MSD, here’s me wishing a very happy birthday to you and a great life ahead ❣️💕💫

For one last time, I wish to see, “Mahi maar Raha hai”.

To the man who showed everyone why staying in is the safest option 🏏
Happy Birthday, @msdhoni #HappyBirthdayMSDhoni

— Reliance Jio (@reliancejio) July 7, 2021