Cracker war: Can Dhoni hit Sachin for a six?

Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni might have misfired in the T20 World Cup, but the Dhoni bomb has been doing well. But will it now go the Dhoni way? Anil Kumar writes.

Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni might have misfired in the T20 World Cup, but the Dhoni bomb has been doing well. But will it now go the Dhoni way? There are a couple of fresh challengers on the block - Sachin and Sehwag crackers.

With the launch three years ago in Dhoni's hometown Ranchi, Dhoni brand crackers became an instant hit. At R50 to R700 a packet, they come in different shapes, sizes and decibels.

"They have been our best sellers," said Kamal Singhania, proprietor of Trade Friends, Jharkhand's biggest firecracker wholesaler. "This year, there are crackers under Sachin and Sehwag brandnames. We are anxious to see the competition off the field."

Dhoni has so far refrained from making any comment on the use of his name for crackers. His school friends say he takes it as an honour.

"Last Diwali we bought 60 packets of Dhoni chocolate bombs," said Swastik Kumar, a die-hard Dhoni fan. This time, he plans to try out the Sachin and Sehwag brands, too. "Dekhte hain kisme kitna hai dum (Let's see who packs more punch)."