7 Human Attributes to learn from “Captain Cool” -The Legendary MS. Dhoni
“The process is more important than the results. And if you take care of the process, you will get the results.” -MS Dhoni
Mahendra Singh Dhoni or MS Dhoni or MSD or Dhoni or Mahi or 007, fans have their way of addressing their favorite cricketer. A remarkable captain and legend in the world of cricket.
His exceptional skill at the game, as well as his bat wizardry, are well recognized. But it is his remarkable talents, both on and off the field, that people respect the most about him. The former Indian captain’s success can be attributed solely to his tenacity, perseverance, optimism, and humility.
MS Dhoni’s rise from a small-town lad to a cricket icon is quite extraordinary. It follows the story of a young child who began as a goalie for his high school football team and progressed to become one of the most successful cricket captains of all time. Dhoni is well-known among cricket fans as ‘Captain Cool‘ because of his calm, unruffled attitude.
Despite his retirement, he continues to have a significant effect on Indian as well as world cricket. Not only was Dhoni an exceptional captain, but he also won several accolades and set multiple records, including the most victories by an Indian captain in Tests and One Day Internationals. He also has the most back-to-back ODI victories of any Indian captain.
Under his captaincy, India won the 2007 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20, the 2007–08 Commonwealth Bank Series, the 2010 Asia Cup, the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.
MS Dhoni “Captain Cool”, is one of the best that the game of cricket had. People have ascribed his achievement to luck, timing, good fortune, and other such factors, but nothing is possible without dedication and hard work.
Here are the top attributes of ‘Captain Cool’, MS Dhoni that can inspire everyone:
Yes to Learning
Learning is an ongoing process, and Dhoni demonstrated the same way he continued to learn throughout his career. He began his career as an aggressive batter, but as his career developed, he shaped himself into a batsman who can hold the innings in the middle and finish the game in the end.
Another instance is his wicket-keeping abilities. All of us have noticed that when he first began his career, he was not well-known for his wicket-keeping abilities. But he persevered in honing his abilities behind the stumps, and he is now regarded as one of the world’s fastest wicket keepers.
Maintain Composure — One ball at a time attitude
Being composed is one of MS Dhoni’s best qualities, as seen by his decision-making on the field while bearing the expectations of billions of fans. For example, during the 2011 World Cup Finals, India lost two wickets sooner than planned, and the pressure was thrown at MS Dhoni.
In the face of this adversity, he stayed calm and ended the game with his legendary helicopter shot. ‘Captain Cool’ and his incredible ability to detach from the commotion surrounding him and stay focused on his game helped India win the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.
Humility earns you respect
We all have seen the 2011 World Cup. Take a look at the photos from the same. Where can you find Dhoni when he hits the game-winning six? It was a proud moment not only for him but for the entire nation. He was not by the prize which he and the team won. But he felt it was Sachin’s moment. He stepped back and allowed Sachin Tendulkar to have his day in the spotlight. He was well aware that a single hand could never have won the World Cup. He let his teammates take the spotlight.
As mentioned earlier, India won all major titles under his captaincy, including the world championships and several bilateral series. Look at what Dhoni does: he accepts the trophy, passes it to a younger player, and steps aside. He understands that it is a collective effort, and he is overly exposed for all of the credit. As a result, he just allows his team members to develop.
Setting Work and Life Priorities
Dhoni once said, “I don’t like discussing cricket off the field.”, and yes it is pretty much true. When Dhoni is not on the practice field or the cricket pitch. He is seen spending time with his family and friends. At his Ranchi farmhouse, he may be found playing with his daughter and three dogs. He enjoys riding motorcycles and collecting supercars. He has also shown his support to the Indian Army on several occasions and has even joined the crew. Dhoni enjoys playing football in addition to cricket. These activities have always helped him maintain a sense of balance between his professional and personal life.
Believe in yourself and Perseverance
The winning six of 2011 WC is still fresh in our minds. But, it hasn’t been a cakewalk for Dhoni, if we look at his scores in the series 31, 34, 19, 12, 22, 7, and 25 followed by tons of criticism. After all that, winning with a six, Woo… we hardly remember him being out of form. It was only possible because he believed in himself.
There are many incidents where Dhoni’s self-belief has been highlighted. Another such instance is from his past life, where he was unable to make through for the Indian squad despite playing few Ranji matches and proving himself with regular runs. He then began working as a ticket collector, but he never doubted his gift and continued to hone it. He was picked for the Indian squad due to his hard work and confidence, and then it was no looking back.
Sense of Humour
Sense of humour is vastly undervalued. It can lighten harsh situations. It even provides new insights into problems. When used at the appropriate moment and in the correct amounts, humour is the finest antidote to any unpleasant circumstance.
Our ‘Captain Cool’ is also known for his sense of humour alongside his calm demeanour. For example, during a 2015 match against Australia, Dhoni was questioned, “Their tail is like Hanuman’s. Yours is similar to a Doberman. That must be hurting your side?” To which he responded, “Now even PETA has declared you cannot cosmetically remove a tail.” Even a serious skipper like Dhoni used comedy to alleviate difficult circumstances, which is a valuable lesson to learn.
Take risks your instincts won’t let you fail
If we want to achieve something in our lives, we must trust our instincts and not be afraid to take risks. MS Dhoni has demonstrated this numerous times in his career by following his instincts and calling out the odds. As an example, consider his T20 World Cup final in 2007.
Even though seasoned bowler Harbhajan Singh had one over remaining in his spell, Dhoni went with less experienced Joginder Sharma in the last over. He trusted his intuition and took a chance on Joginder, and it paid off.
Throughout his career, MS Dhoni has been a hugely influential figure. Many of the individuals look up to him as a role model in their personal, sporting, and professional lives. Coming from a middle-class background, he accomplished a great deal through hard work and dedication. He still has a lot of cricket left in him, and perhaps there are more lessons to be learned from him…
