MS Dhoni And The Big Question About Becoming India Coach

The debate about MS Dhoni’s future never seems to fade away. Even after stepping down as India’s captain years ago and now playing only in the Indian Premier League there are always fresh talks about whether Dhoni could one day take charge as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. Ex-India cricketer Aakash Chopra has shared his own opinion on this and as per him Dhoni will least likely not opt for the profession of becoming a coach. Chopra believes Dhoni is not keen to adopt such a challenging job and he shared his reasons why this should not happen.

Coaching is not merely teaching players from the dressing room. It consumes even more time and energy than representing the country. Chopra elucidated that a job of coaching keeps you out of home for nearly all year round. He described that someone like Dhoni who already spent a bulk of his life sleeping out of a suitcase would not be ready to make that sacrifice once more. Dhoni himself has frequently expressed the need to balance his cricket and his personal life and he has been able to do so very effectively by playing in the IPL alone. Chopra's point of view is that Dhoni cherishes this balance and would not dream of sacrificing it for a coaching job.

In recent years many retired cricketers have decided to work only in the Indian Premier League. The reason is elementary. The season of the IPL is only about two months long and this brief period allows the retired players to remain attached to the game without having to devote their whole year. Chopra believes Dhoni won't even be interested in this shorter path. His cricket career has already been huge and he appears to like spending his life with his family with a still little bit of the game from Chennai Super Kings.

There has also been much speculating on whether Dhoni will keep playing in the IPL or if he will eventually retire. With each season comes the same question but Dhoni has still never fully answered. Fans are always keeping their fingers crossed that he will keep playing with Chennai Super Kings for as long as he can but neither Dhoni nor the franchise has formally announced anything yet. This keeps building on the intrigue about him.

In an event in Chennai recently Dhoni discussed the issues his team has been going through in the IPL and how they are going to correct things. There were some gaps in the team that he acknowledged needed to be plugged. He discussed how much better the batting looks now with the return of Ruturaj Gaikwad. Dhoni also indicated that the franchise is eagerly awaiting the next auction to plug the remaining loopholes. He indicated that the biggest thing is to be in your best form from the very start of the tournament. Planning needs to be accurate and resources must be utilized in the optimum manner. He also told fans that although they feel unhappy after a poor season the players feel it all the more. The process always includes but the outcome also has to follow and the team will strive hard to provide that in the upcoming season.

This indicates just how much Dhoni continues to ponder the game and his team but it does not necessarily equate to his desire to take that kind of thinking into a coaching position. There is a vast difference between taking over for two months as a franchise leader and coaching the Indian cricket team for nearly the entire year. The India head coach has to dedicate about ten months a year which is a big ask. Chopra was emphatic that this kind of pressure and absence from family is not something that Dhoni would take lightly.

Many great names in world cricket have transitioned into coaching over the years but not all legends become coaches. For Dhoni the respect he commands and the aura he has already make him a mentor like figure. His calmness on the field and his ability to take sharp decisions have inspired countless cricketers. Even today many youngsters in Chennai Super Kings learn from him simply by watching how he handles tough situations. This natural ability to guide does not need a formal coaching tag.

Fans still dream of Dhoni as India’s coach because of the success he achieved as captain. He took the team to the T20 World Cup in 2007 the ODI World Cup in 2011 and the Champions Trophy in 2013. His success and leadership style are still remembered. But as Chopra has explained coaching is not all about cricketing brains. It is all about touring continuously conducting camps doing administrative work and facing the pressure of international cricket almost daily. For one who has already experienced that frenetic way of life it is not too surprising to learn that Dhoni might not be keen.

Even without coaching Dhoni’s influence in Indian cricket will always remain strong. The IPL gives him the perfect stage to stay involved while keeping his personal commitments intact. His presence in the Chennai Super Kings dressing room is often described as the biggest strength of the franchise. The younger generation of players get priceless guidance simply by being around him.

So whereas the fantasy of seeing MS Dhoni as India's official coach may remain in many hearts the truth is otherwise. He might decide to spend time with family keep playing the IPL for a bit longer and then retire from the game altogether on his own terms. His contribution to Indian cricket has already been historic and whether he turns into a coach or not that legacy will never be modified.

Ultimately the debate will continue and fans will continue to hope. But for the moment Dhoni seems content striking an ideal balance between cricket and life. And in Aakash Chopra's view it is this balance that is the primary reason why we can never see MS Dhoni as India's head coach.