Roshanrocks Posted August 10, 2011 Posted August 10, 2011 by Nagraj Gollapudi at Edgbaston Did you know there are management gurus and researchers who want to map MS Dhoni's brain so they can understand how India's most successful captain's mind works - how he manages to synchronise his thoughts into ideas and then into deeds? One of India's leading business schools, the Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi, wants to use the research as part of a neuromanagement course they plan to introduce. But do these wise men know how tired that brain is after the rigours and grind it has gone through since Dhoni became the leader of the Indian cricket team in all forms? From 2009 till date Dhoni has played more top-level cricket than any other cricketer, if you put the IPL and Champions League Twenty20 in that bracket. He has played 24 Tests, 61 ODIs, 16 Twenty20 internationals and 49 matches for Chennai Super Kings over three IPLs and a Champions League Twenty20. His closest contender in terms of workload is Kumar Sangakkara, who stepped down as Sri Lanka captain after the World Cup, and has logged 20 Tests, 61 ODIs, 24 Twenty20 internationals and 40 IPL games since 2009. Matt Prior might have played more international cricket than those two players - 33 Tests, 35 ODIs and five T20 internationals - but does not have the rigours of marquee Twenty20 tournaments to worry about. If you further dissect Dhoni's schedule you wonder how the man has been able to continue walking, let alone squat, heave bats, keep a smile on his face while leading India to the No.1 position in Tests, lift gongs like the World Cup, the IPL title (twice) and the Champions League Twenty20. Dhoni started 2009 with a quick five-match one-day series in Sri Lanka followed by a T20 international. India then dashed to New Zealand and played a whole tour comprising two Twenty20s, five ODIs and three Tests, of which Dhoni played two. Dhoni then led Chennai Super Kings in the IPL that took place in South Africa between April 18 and May 24. India's early exit from the World Twenty20 in England, in early June, afforded him a few extra days off but India played a five-match one-day series in the West Indies from June 26. Then came the longest break Dhoni has had in many years - a two-month rest period. He was back in action by September, playing three matches in four days in the Compaq Cup in Sri Lanka, before rushing to South Africa for the Champions Trophy. In October, India played seven ODIs at home against Australia; then came a home series against Sri Lanka that included three Tests, two Twenty20 internationals and five one-dayers between mid-November and mid-December. Dhoni kicked off 2010 with a tri-series in Bangladesh and then played one Test in Dhaka in the two-match series, missing the other due to a back injury. South Africa arrived in early February 2010 for two Tests and three one-dayers. Pretty soon Dhoni started another IPL campaign, which ended on a victorious note with Chennai winning their first title on April 25 in Mumbai. Barely able to the savour the victory, Dhoni travelled to the Caribbean to participate in the World Twenty20. A month later India were in Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup. In July they played a three-Test series in Sri Lanka followed by a tri-series there involving New Zealand. In September, Dhoni led Chennai to victory in the Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa. Immediately he dashed back to India to lead in the two-Test series at home against Australia in October. New Zealand landed in India for a three-Test series in November. Dhoni skipped the one-day leg of that home series before travelling to South Africa where India played a full tour involving three Tests, a Twenty20 and five ODIs. Between February and April 2, India worked their way towards a World Cup triumph. Six days later the IPL started, and Dhoni played 16 matches for Chennai. A few weeks break with his family was all Dhoni got before he travelled to the Caribbean to lead India in a three-Test series. And now, he is in England. The point of typing out Dhoni's exhaustive schedule is only to highlight his plight. He has the onerous task of leading four teams, which include so many players from different places, in three different formats, in addition to carrying out his wicketkeeping duties. A captain, a man-manager, a strategist, a wicketkeeper, a brand ambassador, a husband, a friend, an idol; Dhoni has to play all those roles convincingly, and at times, all at one go. Now you know the reason behind his increasing grey-hair count. The trend is set to continue. India's schedule for the 12 months from May 2011 contains 125 days of work: 17 Tests, 36 ODIs and four Twenty20 internationals. In contrast, England play 12 Tests, 20 ODIs and eight Twenty20 internationals. With the BCCI reluctant to bench their most-marketable brand, Dhoni could either hope for a miracle or will be forced to call it quits in one of the formats. It does not take an analyst to tell you that quantity can impact quality. This year, Dhoni has played in 21 international matches across all formats, and scored 472 runs with a top score of 91 not out, achieved in the World Cup final. In England so far his scores in the Tests read 28, 16, 5 and 0. In the tour match in Northampton he made just two runs before walking back in the face of taunts such as "Dhoni, what was that", having edged a half-hearted stroke to the wicketkeeper. Those figures seem ridiculous for someone who was once an impact player. But India need Dhoni to stand strong and govern the lower order, which has been pathetic in comparison to England's. Dhoni feels the problem is more mental than technical. Men like Paddy Upton, India's mental conditioning coach during the years Gary Kirsten was coach, are confident about Dhoni's ability to bounce back. "His workload is unbelievable and the level of performance he has delivered despite that is unbelievable" Upton says. "Dhoni is a warrior. Warriors don't complain. I certainly know there were times where he was fatigued but he soldiered on. He accepted what his responsibility was and also he probably realised the impact on other people. Dhoni would drop dead before he said he couldn't go on anymore." It is easy to see that Dhoni is a bit distracted by the pressures of the ever-increasing-never-ending-workload. You can see him fluffing easy picks behind the wicket, which has also had an impact on the slip fielders. "I would imagine it is," Upton said about Dhoni being affected by the multiple roles he needs to perform efficiently. "But by the same token he will deliver. If anybody else had gone through what he has gone through their slump would have started a long time earlier and lasted a lot longer." As for the mind-mapping gurus, they can only guess the vastness of the project they aim to undertake. Nice article, Truly an amazing work load for Dhoni (as well as other Indian cricketers) since becoming captain... just wonder how long he (others) can go on like this.... Sooner or later either his poor batting form, a string of losses or God forbid an injury might bring him a much needed albeit an ignominious rest... We need to rest our cricketers more... not flog them like Donkeys..
akshayxyz Posted September 16, 2011 Posted September 16, 2011 Dhoni can't accept it.. he is mentally fatigued. I say he is. He is not taking proper rest. And we are seeing the effects in captaincy blunders.
Asim Posted September 16, 2011 Posted September 16, 2011 You guys can't think what Dhoni can... He is having some loooooooong term plans...
ganeshran Posted September 16, 2011 Posted September 16, 2011 He is tired and fatigued. needs 2-3 weeks of proper rest
King Tendulkar Posted September 17, 2011 Posted September 17, 2011 Dhoni playing Champ League sums up the problem! The guy is exhausted playing non stop crciket for a year. SA tour, world cup, IPL, windies tour then this England tour. He has kept/cpatained in all these games. His No1 priority (like all england players do) is to be in tip top shape for India and do everything he can to make sure we win games. But wait he is now of despite all this to now play in pathetic champs league for some who cares team called chennai queens 11. This is ridiculous. He needs a massive rest and focus on next game for India, yet playing in some pathetic tournamnet. Sums up everything worng with Indian cricket at the moment. But then the chump who own Chennai , is also main man in BCCI. Remember when I launched vicious attack on Dhoni for missing test series against SL to priotise IPL. I got slaughtered. Well the chickens have come home to roost now haven't they?
b555 Posted September 17, 2011 Posted September 17, 2011 nthings gonna change he will play it he will win it he will get the money netter not talk about it
Ramzz Posted September 17, 2011 Posted September 17, 2011 LOL @ fatigue. Just watch, he will be back to his aggressive captaincy in the CL...because that league is all that matters now...fatigue is all an eye wash. At least he will have bollinger and morkel at his disposal.
saneindian Posted September 17, 2011 Posted September 17, 2011 Wonder why the media has not followed this issue relentlessly asking tough questions from the BCCI and the players too. Why can't the print and the TV media rn a campaign against this issue and force the BCCI to take corrective measures? If things don't change after this disastrous tour, they will never ever change and in fact get worse taking our cricket further back. MSD and Raina playing CL despite playing non stop cricket, Gambhir likely to be fit for CL despite having a problem earlier during the IPL too..just doesn't sound right.
bulbul Posted September 17, 2011 Posted September 17, 2011 Wonder why the media has not followed this issue relentlessly asking tough questions from the BCCI and the players too. Why can't the print and the TV media rn a campaign against this issue and force the BCCI to take corrective measures? If things don't change after this disastrous tour, they will never ever change and in fact get worse taking our cricket further back. MSD and Raina playing CL despite playing non stop cricket, Gambhir likely to be fit for CL despite having a problem earlier during the IPL too..just doesn't sound right. I guess people have to change their Mindsets... Cricket is no longer like what it was when we grown up...Now its all changed.. i dont have the same feelings i used to get during 90's and 00....Now just enjoying the game... Cricket is completely corporetized,and these players dont have choice... the only option is some of our Senior guys have To show the way in Taking Rest from CL/IPL...but sadly none of them wishes to do this or compelled not to do so... things are going to get even worse In future if people still think National team will Be top priority.. Just guess Once Sachin,Dravid,Laxman all gone from National team will yhe new comers have same Hunger for national duty
Ramzz Posted September 17, 2011 Posted September 17, 2011 Wonder why the media has not followed this issue relentlessly asking tough questions from the BCCI and the players too. Why can't the print and the TV media rn a campaign against this issue and force the BCCI to take corrective measures? If things don't change after this disastrous tour, they will never ever change and in fact get worse taking our cricket further back. MSD and Raina playing CL despite playing non stop cricket, Gambhir likely to be fit for CL despite having a problem earlier during the IPL too..just doesn't sound right. Like it or not...the media is in bed with BCCI and the IPL. They get more viewers, more print media sales, more stories to write about...more news to feed. Simple as that. If star players don't play then the tournament loses viewers, which in turn affects the media coverage.
yoda Posted September 17, 2011 Posted September 17, 2011 CL is important for many fans (like me :P). So if a player was fit for the Eng ODIs, he better play for his CL team. As for you gaize who want to constantly biatch about the IPL and CL, here :finger:
1983-2011 Posted September 17, 2011 Posted September 17, 2011 Dhoni's got bigger plans, play all the test matches, play all the ODI matches, play all the international T20 matches, play all the ipl matches, play all the CLT20 matches and also keep his postion as a wicketkeeper for another 2-3 years then retire from test and t20 internationals
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