Hang on. Now you're back tracking.
Point to me where I implied the criticisms of Dhoni were personal.
You can't. Because I never once suggested as much. And you shouldn't make ridiculous claims like that and expect not to get called out on it.
It's a **** way to discuss cricket, and you personalise the discussion.
Fine debate the merits, but don't make accusations you can't back up.
I'm not sure how you see it, but the term "haters" is one used for people who seem to illogically bash other people for some type of jealousy. I said in your post you concede that there aren't many haters but state that silly things were said about Dhoni. Translated to me that means: "well, there are a hater-like comments, but there aren't many haters".
But nothing silly was said. He had a poor WC record, and still has a very ordinary one. Where does pointing out facts suddenly become a silly comment? I am not making this personal but just calling you on trying to make this one innings as a justification of your disagreement with Dhoni's non-performance in WCs.
Fairly certain you haven't watched the last three years of Indian ODI cricket really and its obvious you're basing your estimations on World Cups.
Fine do that, but when people rate Dhoni because of what he's done in the format, and you haven't seen it, probably best not to discard them.
No, that's a cop out. No one is trying to separate his ODI performances overall with WC ODI performances to belittle him. He was being compared to Bevan months back and in my mind if you think Dhoni deserves to be compared to Bevan (especially as a finisher) then he has to do things that Bevan did. Bevan was a very special player and played the kinds of innings Dhoni has yet to do. He played a fine knock today, but they do not compare to the innings Bevan played when Australia were a hair away from losing in many matches.
Maybe you will understand this in time, as your country has just won the WC, that this kind of achievement made is a truly special one. It is so different to CT trophies or the glorified exhibition matches which are played year round. Maybe Dhoni will go on and have an awesome WC next time and become the highest run scorer, and you win another WC. Then maybe in the future a new player comes along where people try to compare the two players. And then you will understand that your appreciation of Dhoni is not merely in the ordinary matches but in the pressure-cooker, emotionally charged, games which represent the pinnacle of this format.
Then you will appreciate why someone like me expects much more from batsmen trying to compare to someone like Bevan as you will expect much more from batsmen who may want to compare to Dhoni.
!!! fantastic innings by dhoni! showing that he is an awesome captain holding the world cup and holding the last innings.