MS Dhoni: The man who lives by the process

Lots have been written about the legendary MS Dhoni, and as I sit down to write this, I wonder, 'what exactly is the first thing that comes to our mind when we hear his name or watch him on the field or, for that matter, behind the microphone during the pre and post-match presentation?'


Well, I don't know about you, but 'process' is the first word that comes to my mind. 


PROCESS. It's a harmless seven-letter word, isn't it? A term that keeps floating around in the ecosystem whenever someone does well.


If process was a brand, then it is fair to say that Dhoni would be its undeclared ambassador. If one got a penny, every time Dhoni uses the word 'Process' to describe his philosophy, they could make a fortune out of it!


The World Cup triumph that brought joy to the nation


Haha! Well, jokes aside, Dhoni's love for 'Process' is a perfect reflection of the kind of human being; a man so engrossed in just following the route rather than being obsessed with the final destination; a guy so detached with the end result that even a World Cup triumph couldn't cajole him into hogging the limelight and saying, "Come, look at me! Me Captain Cool, who just ended a 28-year-old wait for World Cup glory."


Typically, you'd see World Cup winning captains take centre stage, kissing the trophy, holding it over their head, and posing for photographers.


And, here was Dhoni, after having played a defining role in the final, handing over the Cup to his teammates and vanishing in the background.


How does Dhoni manage to do all this? Leading your side to a title is the ultimate high for any captain. After all, a triumph is built not only on years of hard work, toil, and patience but also on multiple disappointments.


And Dhoni has had his fair share of disappointments over the years. Who can forget the 2007 WC debacle where he failed as a batsman, the multiple group-stage and knockout exits in ICC events, or overseas drubbings in Test cricket?


Dhoni has seen it all, and to be honest, even he failed to keep his emotions in check when India won the 2007 T20 WC and 2013 Champions Trophy, but essentially, he has always managed to keep a poker face irrespective of the end result.


The answer to the above question can possibly be found in Dhoni's initial years as a professional cricketer. 


The Journey to the top of the mountain


Being from a non-traditional cricket state, Dhoni's rise to the top was full of hurdles.


The Ranchi cricketer faced one setback after another before finally getting a well-deserved call-up in 2004.


When things don't come easy, one tends to understand the importance of following the process even more. When you're not from a privileged background, the end result is somewhat a foregone conclusion.


And, to be honest, after a point, you become detached. After a series of setbacks, you become numb. Failure no longer bothers you, as you've seen enough. 


This very mindset enables you to just work on improving yourself, and once you get completely engrossed in your work ethics, success comes sooner or later.


And, at this point, you start treating success and setbacks with the same yardstick.


For me, this is something that separates Dhoni from the other captains that I've watched in my lifetime.


The legacy 'Captain Cool' left behind


The ability to be calm under immense pressure, not press the panic button when most do, and not get carried away by success or bogged down by failures is rare and priceless.


When you're not desperate for results to go your way and only focus on improving, success is inevitable, and Dhoni is a prime example.


Dhoni's most significant legacy as a batsman will always be 'Mahi hai na, sambhal lega', but for me, his biggest legacy will always be the calm that he exuded on the field. Even in the most desperate situations, the presence of Dhoni on the field used to assure us (sometimes misguided) that 'All Iz Well', even when it wasn't.


Not many cricketers can boast of that aura and that assurance factor. And that makes Dhoni a cult hero, a one of a kind freak who still continues to leave us gobsmacked.