No 1929 hours in any clock of the world can retire you from our HEARTS!!

 

"Dhoni finishes it off in style! A magnificent strike into the crowd, India lift the world cup after 28 years. The party starts in the dressing room and it is AN INDIAN CAPTAIN WHO HAS BEEN MAGNIFICENT ON THE NIGHT OF THE FINALS!!"

The lines and the moment every cricket fan in India will remember for their lives because you made a dream come true and made us all proud. You're a hero for our entire generation of cricket fans. The best match finisher in the world. We still remember the way Sachin ran into the ground and hugged you for you had given him the best memory of his entire career to retire with. We wanted that for you too, to be celebrated, to be thanked by the team for being a pillar of strength, hope, belief, the silent support and most importantly for being your awesome self for more than a decade now. It hurts to know that it is not possible now because you, in your classic unsuspecting style decided to retire but captain, you're a shooting star! Your stature only increases and you shine brighter even when you try to pass by so ingenuously because you have fulfilled all our wishes. 

You're an emotion for us Indians. Our confidence, when we used to say "Dhoni sambhaal lega!" For all those nail-biting, tough times in matches when you have stayed all cool and calm on the field doing your calculations, setting-up the field, staying focused and working your bat whenever the team needed you to lead us towards victory, we thank you! For, a dedicated sportsperson like you inspires us to connect with a game which then becomes a sacred thing for so many around the world that bring us all together to celebrate it like a festival. 

From being a phenomenal wicket keeper with hands faster than a pick-pocket behind the stumps; to the jaw-dropping helicopter shot sending the ball flying into the perplexed crowd, to the mind games and strategies engineering wickets for bowlers, to having the faith in fellow teammates, to the smile and the removal of the stump after a win - everything is just Mahi. Just you!

 The fact that you have always loved the cricket part of the game, maintaining the low profile, providing opportunities to your teammates, have garnered this sky-high respect for you from players around the world, your teammates and your people. 

We neither wanted nor were prepared to witness your red-rimmed eyes when you walked back to pavilion from the crease at Old Trafford for you were our hope and it broke our hearts to see you move back, and we did not think that would be the last time we were seeing you in the blue jersey number seven. You deserve so much better. We don't know if we're ready to miss the ‘oye(s)’ behind the stump, the ‘you know(s)’ in the post-match presentation and the much trusted DHONI review system yet, but all we want is for you to be happy because that's the least we can wish for you after all that you've given us by being you. You've always been and you will continue to be an inspiration for us, Legend. Thank you! 

Wish you good health, peace and smiles for eternity…. 

Pal do pal nahi! …. Har pal teri kahani hai…. 

Much love captain!❤️

Our Captain Forever 💕