His coronation, incidentally , took place a couple of years earlier itself when he was elevated to captaincy in the Test format too, making him India's most powerful player; he carved his own identity by painting himself into a quiet corner, creating the image and personality of an aloof, confident leader.
He was above all despite the presence of stalwarts like Sachin Tendulkar , Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman , and a strong push by a rampant Virender Sehwag for a bigger stake in Team India. He survived cataclysmic tours to England and Australia, even though it became clear that his handsoff approach in Tests was nothing but a defensive veneer.
Dhoni's stock kept rising, on and off the field, as he mastered the knack of slipping in important wins and titles at just the critical juncture; by the time, the meteoric Sehwag burnt himself out and Gautam Gambhir picked up technical glitches he had reached a safe place. Virat Kolhi has emerged as a strong contender but BCCI's forwardthinking mandarins know that he will always be a risky proposition.
In that sense, the captain is still in a safe place; India may have lost virtually every game in South Africa and New Zealand, but each time they went down with a gallant fight, almost admirably . There is also the little matter of the rise of a new team, with the young turks still trying to find their feet in international cricket.
So, despite the recent setbacks, Dhoni is reasonably ensconced, with no perceptible threat either to his throne or to his place in the team; yes, he doesn't have a single 50 in T20Is but that's a hardly a case against him: he bats way down the order and either doesn't get enough overs or partners to showcase his matchwinning skills.
The bigger worry is that India have not scaled past the Super Eight stage in the last three editions; as regular practitioners of the shorter format, in the fast-evolving IPL League, they ought to have been masters of this game. Every batsman in the lineup is a match-winner , with enough experience to manoeuvre out of any contingency; the bowlers, especially spinners, hold their own at least on slower pitches.
The only reason for inadequate successes , perhaps, is that India scarcely play as a team in this format; it may be a deliberate ploy by the board, to ensure that the IPL doesn't get undervalued but Dhoni's boys have played just over 40 T20 matches. At some level , it is preventing them from gelling into a compelling force which they ought to be.
Given Dhoni's penchant for the unexpected , he may well spring a pleasant surprise in Bangladesh too; after all, he holds the ODI World Cup, the Champions Trophy and may want to complete the Grand Slam by claiming the biggest prize in T20 as well. He has the ammunition , the resources, and now the desperation , to achieve it, no doubt. But even if he fails, he shall still remain the Super King of Team India; after all, within a few days after the event the IPL will get under way and that is the terrain he is most comfortable in.
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