Mahi magic on & off field

This is for Dhoni only!!

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070707/asp/jharkhand/story_8026960.asp

As the cricketer celebrates his 26th birthday, Supratim Pal marvels at the brand name Dhoni that remained strong as ever no matter what the team went through

Only a few could grab the attention he got in the past two and half years since his ODI debut in December 2004. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who celebrates his 26th birthday tomorrow, is no more a cricketer; he is a brand himself. His continuous success on the field has supported MSD to build an off-the-field aura around him.
He is a born champion. While on the greens he has to fight to edge out Dinesh Karthik — also a wicketkeeper — these days, in the brand war he is pitted against stronger competitors like senior-most teammate Sachin Tendulkar or tennis queen (at least in the subcontinent!) Sania Mirza.
Interestingly, in the last financial year, Brand Dhoni got more commercial ad minutes on the TV than either Sachin or Sania.
His impeccable hairdo and fascination for motorbikes have put Mahi on an acclaimed pedestal which neither Sachin nor any other sportsperson can achieve at present.
Whatever commercials he had done these months were all about endorsing the Dhoni style statement — be it 7UP or Sonata, Brylcreem or Reebok. Last year, when he was voted MTV Youth Icon, nobody was surprised because Dhoni signifies what youth is: stylish, suave and sensational.
Even in the virtual world, his fans across the world put together a website: www.dhonixpress.com . The website says it all about Dhoni — the man, the player, the hero. A message board dedicated for discussion on the superstar is also on the website created (November 2005) even before Dhoni was to take the Test field donning the Team India blue!
The Dhoni Factor — a deadly blow to fast bowlers like Shoaib Akhtar — is hugely popular among members of social networking website www.orkut.com . Orkut , incidentally a contender for this year's MTV Youth Icon, provides thousands of youngsters to share the same feeling: Dhoni — the destroyer of opponent's bowling arsenal, the saving grace of the Tricolour.
Over 50 communities are there in praise for Dhoni — ranging from "Dhoni" to "I love you Dhoni". And about 13 communities on Orkut do not find Dhoni that much gracious and gave birth to "I hate Dhoni" pages.
Bloggers on the web are also not far behind in appreciating the superb batting hand and safe gloves he possesses. But there are flaks, too.
"I know he is a great one-day player but I am sorry to say that Dhoni is a poor Test player," writes one Sudip Kafle, in one of his "special blogs" on Mahi.
But the Team India ODI vice-captain need not worry when he cuts the birthday cake in Hove this weekend, as both his one-day average (46.97) and strike rate (98.75) are above par — only few of his generation can match that.