Because he is the man who broke through the million-dollar barrier at the Indian Premier League auction, becoming India’s most-wanted player for T20 cricket. Because he has taken to the captaincy of the limited overs team like he were to the manor born, combining assurance, instinct and officer-material arrogance. Because he is the man for whom Indians now switch on their TV sets. Because he stands for all that is good about younger, less orthodox, more aspirational, and less deferential India. Because, along with being a very marketable brand, M.S. Dhoni is a cricketer who has made his own destiny.