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Mahendra Singh Dhoni's tenure as captain in T20 internationals is often romanticised for his early success, but a closer look reveals a pattern of tactical stagnation and missed opportunities.
While his leadership in the inaugural 2007 ICC T20 World Cup was an indisputable high point, the years that followed painted a more sobering picture. Apart from that one iconic win, Dhoni's captaincy in T20 World Cups yielded diminishing returns, with India consistently underperforming on the big stage.
2007: A Spark That Fizzled Out
Dhoni led a young and largely untested Indian squad to victory in the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup. His unflappable demeanour and instinctive captaincy were hailed as revolutionary.
Yet, instead of building on this triumph, the team faltered in every subsequent T20 World Cup under his leadership. What seemed like the beginning of a dynasty ended up being a flash in the pan.
Poor Strategic Evolution in Later Campaigns
In 2009, 2010 and 2012, India could not go past the Super 8 stage. Critics questioned Dhoni's often baffling team selections, conservative tactics, and reluctance to evolve with the fast-paced format. Further, his faith in out-of-form players and the benching of promising talent drew flak.
Even in the 2014 edition, where India reached the final, it was Virat Kohli who carried the team almost single-handedly. Kohli scored a staggering 319 runs, while Dhoni, batting lower down the order, failed to exert any substantial influence. India’s loss to Sri Lanka in the final saw Dhoni criticised for his slow batting and defensive mindset.
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2016: A Missed Home Advantage
Hosting the 2016 T20 World Cup was seen as India's golden chance. Despite Kohli’s continued brilliance and some inspired performances from bowlers, India fell to the West Indies in the semi-final.
Once again, Dhoni's leadership was seen as reactive rather than proactive. The lack of dynamism in crunch moments proved costly.
Kohli’s Rise, Dhoni’s Eclipse
Throughout Dhoni’s later captaincy years, it was Kohli who emerged as the team's backbone in T20 cricket, as his dominance with the bat was in stark contrast to Dhoni’s cautious and often passive role.
Analysts argued that Dhoni’s strategies were better suited to ODIs and Tests, but ill-matched for the high-octane, ever-evolving T20 format.
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A Captain Who Didn't Keep Up
While MS Dhoni remains a towering figure in Indian cricket history, his track record in T20 World Cups post-2007 presents a different narrative.
The lack of a single T20 World Cup title after his debut win, combined with India’s repeated exits at key stages, supports the argument that Dhoni, for all his early magic, failed to adapt and deliver as a long-term T20 leader. In retrospect, his T20 captaincy record stands as a missed opportunity and proof that early success does not guarantee enduring greatness.
