The genius of MSD

There are three pivotal defining moments in Indian cricket, non-surprisingly involving captains of various eras, which are etched in our minds forever. 

1) Kapil Dev's running catch to dismiss Viv Richards that turned the match on its head, enabling India to win a shocking 1983 final.

2) Sourav Ganguly's shirtless chest-thumping on Lord's balcony after Kaif and Co's jaw-dropping run heist in the Natwest Trophy in England.

3) The unerasable memory of a possessed MSD belting Nuwan Kulasekara for a six that seemed to open a passage straight into the heavens to win us the 2011 WC.

Without MSD, There are no guaranteed-to-deliver suggestions to the bowlers , No quick singles fascinatingly converted into twos, No helicopter shots, No innovative fielding positions, and bowler rotations. More importantly, there isint a captain so unfazed, undeterred, and poker-faced in the face of a win or a loss to walk the 22 yards again.

Though the big hits stopped coming in the flag end of his career on the international stage (Not the IPL, as his murderous hitting prowess hadn't deserted him there), MSD's ability to turn any situation with minimal resources in hand was nothing short of genius. Giving Joginder Sharma, the ever so important last over in the T20 2007 WC final, the usage of spinners to strangle the opposition when no quality fast bowlers were in the side, lightning-fast stumpings and finishing games by himself at the dead end, the list is endless.

Whatever criticism was thrown at him by critics and minnows like me, he held it all graciously, never wavering, never over-reacting like a true gentleman. With all the trophies achievable achieved, and all Everests climbed, MSD's silence did all the talking. Even when he chose to hang his boots on the 15th, there was no hue and cry, no flashy press conferences, but staunch honest silence under the cover of an old tune of "Mai pal do pal ka shayar hu" that reverberated against a million beating hearts.

Thanks, MSD for presenting the greatest highs that Indian cricket witnessed in a nice neat little package of happiness. You gave us the belief that there is no such thing as an underdog and if there is honesty and sheer self-belief, destiny can be molded such that everything is conquerable from Ranchi to Lords.

Take a bow.