The genius of the Indian Premier League, the theory goes, is to combine two national obsessions: cricket and Bollywood. Yet the more you look back at the career of Mahendra Singh Dhoni - the long-serving India captain who finally stood down this week - the more you realise that he
Cricket: Dhoni quits lead role
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India's Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Photo / AP
It turned out that Dhoni's flamboyance was accidental - a result of the fact that, in his own words, "I was a slogger when I came into the team".
Captain Dhoni proved to be more ice than fire. His response to a half-volley was never to hurl his cap to the ground. Instead, he would raise one glove thoughtfully to his lips. His bowlers responded with devotion, grateful for his self-restraint.
Dhoni was thus the ideal guide for a nation that never lacks passion in its cricket, but could be prone to flare-ups and meltdowns. Under his patient stewardship, India achieved a full house: all three international limited-overs trophies, plus the top ranking in tests.
This all sounds deceptively simple in hindsight. Yet the job of India cricket captain is so pressurised, it makes managing the England football team look like a hobby. In his resignation Dhoni put India first. He knows that Virat Kohli is the beating heart of the dressing-room now.