Dhoni and surprises go hand in hand. The former Indian captain stunned the cricket world in 2014 by quitting Tests just after finishing as the country’s most successful skipper in the five-day format. He pulled another surprise a few days back by quitting international cricket on the auspicious Indian Independence Day (‘”Captain Cool’ Dhoni: From railway ticket collector to Indian cricket icon”, Aug. 15, Gulf Today).

The talismanic MSD has changed the face of Indian cricket in the last few years, more so since donning the Indian jersey. So, his departure may well mark the end of an era. His exploits on the field have repeatedly made headlines but so has been his unusually ‘cool’ temperament. I don’t see any one in the current setup fill his ‘Captain Cool’ boots, though there could be some who may be able to match his cricketing prowess in the future.

While Dhoni’s 2011 World Cup sixer has gone down in history, future cricketers may find difficulty in matching his record of being the only Indian captain to win all three ICC trophies. Cricketing heroic apart, to me his greatest contribution is the change he brought about in the fraternity. Indian cricket witnessed a paradigm shift, thanks to the boy from Jharkhand.

A cricketer from small states making it the national side was unheard of before he graced the field. Only players from big cricketing states like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Punjab made the top ranks. But he broke the mould and today the field is open for anyone who dares to perform.

His former India teammate Suresh Raina too announced his international retirement on the same day. Here’s wishing both all success.

Ralph R — By email