AA Edit | Dhoni made winning a habit

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a sui generis. Coming as he did from a town in the hinterland and his first job as a railway ticket examiner, his background seemed all wrong and he was run out without scoring on his international debut.

As he evolved from a gawky youth with long hair into a suave national icon he also transformed Indian cricket - on the field with his instinctive dynamism and in the selection committee room where he backed the men he saw as match winners.

Leading a bunch of young players, he stunned the world in the T20 World Cup in a format that was thought to be unsuitable for the laid-back temperament of Indian cricketers.

Like Kapil’s Devils did in the 1983 World Cup final at Lord’s, Dhoni’s young guns had shown an ability to seize the moment.

Indian cricket was a financial powerhouse by then but with few trophies in its cupboard. Dhoni changed that by bringing in his winning ways, leading from the front as one of the best finishers in the game and the safest catcher and alert stumper.

Soaking up the pressures while retaining an essential calmness to bring out the best of sporting skill sets was Dhoni’s forte.

He became the only captain in the world to win across formats - T20 World Cup in 2007, World Cup in 2011 and Champions Trophy in 2013 after having first led India to the top rung of the Test ladder of merit, besides three IPLs for his favourite Chennai Super Kings and two Champions League titles.

In handling success with equanimity, Dhoni has become an inspirational national figure with a special place in his heart for men of the armed forces, who see him as an apolitical figure endowed with the ideal fighting spirit.

He kept up the element of surprise in timing his retirement announcement, lacing it with the armed forces’ 24-hour clock - 1929 hours - in perhaps a hint of what he may like to do as a mentor.

Close to 40, he gives up a young man’s international game while leaving Indian cricket in better shape.