Opinion Express View on CSK captaincy: An icon called Dhoni
His quitting captaincy in a T20 league is an event because of the special place he has made for himself on the field
The admiration for Dhoni, however, comes from the opposite end of the spectrum — it is a more adult love. 
He last captained India in 2018, last played for India in 2019. He is 42 now and it should be unsurprising that MS Dhoni has quit captaincy in a T20 league. And yet it’s anything but a regular event as suggested by the handwringing of fans. They are worried that this presages the bigger event of him retiring from playing in the IPL. It’s remarkable that his halo has increased manifold in a T20 league at the end of his international career.
Sachin Tendulkar was loved as a young prodigy, a generation felt protective of him and another generation grew up looking up at him. The admiration for Dhoni, however, comes from the opposite end of the spectrum — it is a more adult love.
Even when he led India to the World Cup title in 2011, he was seen as the dutiful legatee quenching the now-veteran Tendulkar’s 21-year thirst. A nation that wanted to pay its gratitude to its greatest cricketer was glad to have found in Dhoni the man to deliver. And then the Dhoni story started to turn.
Suddenly, all the old faces disappeared off the playing fields and Dhoni, the bridge between past and future, became the lone man standing. His steely calmness, his mentoring of the youngsters, his thrilling finishing style, his impeccable game sense which is always a touch ahead of everybody — all came to a perfect boil in the IPL.
Tamil Nadu fell head over heels in love with the man who was sweeping them T20 titles. At the same time, he became the cricketer who couldn’t be appropriated by any region. Ganguly was Bengal’s dada, Tendulkar became Paaji but still retained his Mumbaikar essence, Dravid was the Bangalorean, Kohli was Delhi ka flamboyant chokra — but Dhoni has been India’s icon. And so when he chooses to step away from his captaincy, it takes on the feel of a king relinquishing his throne. His subjects wonder about his brisk walk into the horizon.
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