India’s triumph in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup under the captaincy of MS Dhoni is etched in cricketing history. However, there exists a misguided faction of fans who attribute the entire success solely to Dhoni’s brilliance, overlooking the crucial contributions of the entire team.
Following India’s defeat in the World Test Championship final against Australia, one such fan raised this point, emphasizing Dhoni’s extraordinary impact as captain. “No coach, no mentor, young boys, most senior players denied to take part. This guy defeated prime Australia in the semifinals and won a T20 World Cup in just 48 days after becoming captain,” the fan wrote.
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In response, Harbhajan Singh, a key member of both historic victories, delivered a fitting retort to this ignorant supporter, exposing the prevailing culture of captain worship in India. Bhajji shed light on the collective effort that led to the World Cup triumphs, emphasizing that Dhoni did not single-handedly carry the team to victory.
“Yes, when those matches were played, this young boy was playing alone for India, not the other 10 players… So, alone, he won the World Cup trophies… The irony is that when Australia or any other nation wins the World Cup, the headlines say ‘Australia’ or ‘etc. country’ won. But when India wins, it’s said ‘captain won.’ 😂 It’s a team sport. We win together, we lose together,” Harbhajan Singh candidly expressed.
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His statement highlights the significance of teamwork and collective effort in cricket, reminding everyone that victories are achieved through the combined contributions of the entire team. Dhoni’s leadership was undoubtedly crucial, but it was the coordinated efforts of all the players that propelled India to glory in those tournaments.
Harbhajan’s response serves as a reminder that cricket is a team sport, where every individual’s performance matters. It’s important to acknowledge and celebrate the collective achievements rather than attributing success solely to the captain. The World Cup victories were a testament to India’s unity and shared determination, with each player playing their part in securing the historic triumphs.