Dhoni: 200 crores and counting......

Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has spoken of the need to get away from cricket. “It’s very important to take some time off,” Dhoni said. I can’t seem to agree less with him. He should not only get away from cricket but also from our lives.

Even an ardent cricket fan is giving a miss to cricket now a days. But its becoming hard to miss Money Spinning Dhoni. Dhoni is currently endorsing 22 brands. Soaps, mobile network, watch, fan, health drinks, newspaper, he seems to be making his presence felt everywhere.

India has never won the World Cup at home. In fact, no home team ever has, not even Australia which had its worst record in 1992 when the Cup was held there. With the disastrous team Dhoni is building and their recent performances, it seems very unlikely that India would even cross first round. There will be too much pressure on the Indian team and Dhoni. It seems all the more good if he keeps away from cricket starting Feb 2011, for a while. 

Film stars or so the story goes, pick and choose the scripts they wish to work with when it comes to films. It's another story that despite all this choosing, the films they end up making are disasters. Celebrities, particularly those who have been signed on in record deals, may not have this luxury. I am sure Dhoni is going to be marketed left, right and centre over the next few months, especially given the fact that the World Cup is going to be held in India next year. So Dhoni may have a very limited say in the sort of brands he is going to endorse.

Imagine the plight of consumers if he endorses another 20 brands. I am letting my imagination run wild in thinking of some options.

Dhoni has never endorsed underwear brand yet. This may be one product he would be endorsing and actually using it. Not that I have am personally sure about this, but just going by the common sense that a cricketer of that level would surely be wearing underwear. He better be wearing one, cant think of dressing room calamity otherwise?

Toilet cleaner is another product, which he is yet to endorse. A cool menthol toilet cleaner endorsed by captain cool would be something to look out for.

Being a youth icon that he is, he should be endorsing I-pill. This is the most favorite pill among youngsters today. It would be most ideal coming from the MTV Youth Icon 2006.

Last but not the least, he should be endorsing a gun and hope that he gets a free sample so that he can shoot himself for the young useless brigade he chose to lead.