India captain MS Dhoni's rise to the top reflects the story of the rise of different layers of society, with cricket often anticipating that change. Suresh Menon traces the emergence of a major allrounder and the most respected captain in the game today in Tehelka magazine.

There is thus a historical inevitability about Dhoni’s elevation. It is the story of small town India grabbing chances denied for a number of reasons from the need for the rulers to maintain exclusivity to a lack of infrastructure to diffidence brought on by years of being outside the charmed circle. The progression from royalty to the middle classes to the also-rans appears ordained when viewed from this side of evolution.