New Delhi: Mahendra Singh Dhoni faces the toughest challenge of his fairytale-like career to date when he leads India in New Zealand from this month, his first full tour as captain.
The 27-year-old has reached dizzy heights in a short space of time, rising from a lowly and poorly paid railway employee in his home town Ranchi to become one of the country's most celebrated sportsmen.
The dashing batsman-wicketkeeper, who made an uninspiring one-day debut in December 2004, captained India when senior players opted out of the inaugural Twenty20 world championships in South Africa in 2007.
Dhoni and his rank outsiders went on to win the tournament and he found himself elevated to both the one-day captaincy and deputy to Test skipper Anil Kumble after Rahul Dravid resigned.
Dhoni was finally given charge for all three forms last October when Kumble called it a day, even as critics feared the excessive workload of keeping wicket and leading the team could burn him out.
But the cool, composed and supremely fit Dhoni has shrugged off any concerns, securing wins in four of his five Tests as captain, with the fifth ending in a draw.
Under him, India have won 28 of 46 one-day matches and six of 10 Twenty20 internationals, raising Dhoni to the status of cult figure in the cricket-obsessed country.
Lucrative sponsorship deals have followed — Dhoni currently endorses 19 products — and he is the highest-paid home star in the Indian Premier League with a $1.5-million-a-year contract with the Chennai Super Kings.
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Total Comments: 2
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Posted By joshcricket
What about Kulkarni? any joy for Balaji?
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Posted By virufan
This is the tour on which we expect Dhoni to deliver thefinal verdict on his leadership skills.Not only his leadership
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