Mahendra Singh Dhoni, wicket-keeper, batsman, captain, philosopher. And, perhaps, magician.

It was considered an odd coincidence, a funny story about how the stars aligned to shower him with good fortune, that things fell into place whenever Dhoni donned the captain’s hat, and went horribly wrong when he was either missing or demoted. Fans laughed, and experts indulgently shook their heads at his good luck.

But it has gone on for so long now that even hardened disbelievers are scratching their heads and wondering if he is only a cricketer or some dark sorcerer in disguise.

After a great run in New Zealand, India had their first two poor days in Napier when Dhoni was forced to sit out of the match due to back spasms, and at a time when John Buchanan is advocating more power to coaches, the inexplicable influence of Dhoni’s captaincy must be reinvigorating for skippers around the world.

In the six Tests that he has captained India, they’ve won five, including three times when he was standing in for the now-retired Anil Kumble. He’s led the team to victory in 31 of 51 ODI matches, and while his T20 record of six out of 12 is the least impressive of the lot, it includes the World Cup triumph in South Africa.

Slowly, evidence is emerging to suggest that somehow the life gets sucked out of the team when Dhoni is not on the field. It’s not about field placements and bowling changes, there’s something more, something intangible, that seems to walk off with him.

... contd.