Mahendra Singh Dhoni has shown yet again why he is the sport’s “magician”. According to former Indian cricketer Matthew Hayden, the former India captain most recently showcased his tactical genius in leading CSK to their tenth IPL final unchanged. Despite having an injury, Dhoni has managed to bring out the best of his bowling attack with clever use of Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, and other players in the batting department.
In the same press conference yesterday, Dhoni said that he needs to give himself 8 to 9 months to decide on his future with the franchise. Hayden, however, thinks that it is unlikely for Dhoni to stay for the next IPL season. He believes that Dhoni’s greatness comes from his humility and his ability to take trash and turn it into something priceless.
The current rise of T20 cricket around the world has made it hard for players to commit to all three forms of the game. Hayden questions whether these formats are even viable anymore and believes that enthusiasm for the Test cricket is still high. He notes the case of Nicholas Pooran, David Warner, and other players from marginalised communities who have opted for franchise cricket as a career. As a result, they have lost interest in other formats like Test cricket and cricket is suffering for it.
While players can’t be blamed for focussing on the financially more attractive T20 cricket, Hayden suggests that these changes must be embraced rather than dreaded.
University of Technology Sydney (UTS) put up an event to commemorate Dhoni’s genius. The university was established in 1888 as the first technological university in Australia and it is committed to providing its students with an international education through incorporating cutting-edge technology and real-world practical experience. UTS is globally recognised for its research excellence and continues to be an apex leader in providing innovative education.
Matthew Hayden is a former Australian international cricketer who played in 103 test matches and 161 One Day Internationals. Hayden was part of three World Cup campaigns and was a formidable opening batsman for Australia. He also held the record for the most runs in a calender year for a few years back in 2003 when he had scored 1895 ODI runs. He was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2019 and continues to be an effective voice and leader in cricket.
