Captain,philosopher

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhonis aura is well-documented in contemporary cricket history but recently a hint of a halo has emerged around him.

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhonis aura is well-documented in contemporary cricket history but a hint of a halo emerged around him on Wednesday. Test-match eves are usually occasions when captains blabber clichéd lines on team selection and pitch conditions,but Dhoni toggled between the profound and the abstract. Having landed in Napier just a few hours ago from Auckland,a city famous for its sky tower,he was far removed from the regular pre-match mode.

It started with a simple question about Team India preferring to overstay in upmarket Auckland instead of coming to this small-town Test venue. The query triggered something inside him and he became a philosopher reassuring the sceptics. Mentally we are right there. When it comes to the mind it depends on what youre feeding into the mind. The mind doesnt know if its Napier,or what youre feeding it. You come and say this is Napier,it believes it is Napier; you say it is day,it believes it is day. If you see,its abstract, he said.

He then went on to give a new definition to a much used and abused in cricket form. People say hes in form,but nobody has seen form. Its a state of mind where you are confident and you think positively. Everything you think about,you think its very achievable.

For every question,no matter how short,he had a long answer. Supplementary to his state of mind explanation,he was asked how much Gary Kirsten or his assistant Paddy Upton were responsible for this thinking. On the threshold of a historic series win,he gave his longest answer by a mile,starting with: Frankly its one of the most difficult things to do when it comes to expressing it in words since its an abstract.

He then explained how the support staff have ensured each player was in a comfort zone. As he paused briefly,there was an attempt from the back row to ask another question. Not today,Dhoni had more to say: It doesnt end there. You have other players who contribute. There are lots of things that are working for us, he said,adding in an Oscar winners thank-you-speech tone the names of Robin Singh,Venkatesh Prasad,masseur Ramesh Mane and computer analyst Dhananjay.

Asked about the importance of the second Test,and the far-reaching implications of a win,he spoke about the importance of each step in a journey. We think more about the small steps rather than having a long look at what we want to achieve. We know that if we achieve those,the milestone,the long-term result,or what you want to achieve in the longer run,will take care of itself. If you look too far ahead,you get a bit relaxed or maybe you dont care about those small things that really matter in achieving the big milestone. We know its always the small step or always the next step which is more important,rather than thinking about what we want to achieve in a years time, he said.

Just once during the press conference did Dhoni show any sign of human frailty. After speaking about cherishing the one-for-all,all-for-one atmosphere in the dressing-room,he added: Touch wood,it remains the same.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More