Updated December 30, 2023
“Mahendra Singh Dhoni- The Captain of Cool!”
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is also known as “MS Dhoni” or simply “Mahi,” is an iconic Indian cricketer with an indelible mark on the sport. Born on July 7, 1981, in Ranchi, Dhoni’s cricket journey began in Bihar when he made his first-class debut in 1999. He later became a symbol of excellence in Indian cricket.
Dhoni debuted for the Indian cricket team on December 23, 2004, in an ODI against Bangladesh. His remarkable skills as a right-handed batter and wicketkeeper quickly earned him a place in the hearts of cricket fans. In 2007, he took on the role of captain for the ODI side and gradually assumed leadership in all game formats by 2008.
Dhoni’s most remarkable achievement was leading the Indian cricket team to victory in various international tournaments. Under his captaincy, India won three major cricket tournaments: the ICC World Twenty20 in 2007, the Cricket World Cup in 2011, and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. He also guided the team to victory in the Asia Cup in 2010, 2016, and 2018, establishing himself as one of the most successful Indian cricket captains.
Dhoni’s contribution extended to the Indian Premier League (IPL) as well. He played for and captained the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise. Under his leadership, CSK reached the IPL final on ten occasions, clinching the title five times (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023). Additionally, he led CSK to victory in the Champions League T20 in 2010 and 2014.
His remarkable batting skills in the IPL led to him being one of the few batsmen to score over five thousand runs in the tournament and the first wicketkeeper to achieve this feat.
The Indian government recognized Dhoni’s contributions to cricket. In 2008, he was honored with India’s highest sports award, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. He also gained the Padma Shri in 2009 and the Padma Bhushan in 2018, the fourth and third-highest civilian awards in India, respectively.
Beyond cricket, Dhoni holds the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Territorial Army’s Parachute Regiment. a title bestowed upon him in 2011 by the Indian Army. He enjoys immense popularity not only in India but also around the world.
Early life:
Mahendra Singh Dhoni was born on 7th July 1981, in Ranchi, Bihar, now part of Jharkhand. He was born into a Hindu Rajput family to parents Pan Singh and Devaki Devi. Interestingly, his family spells their surname as “Dhauni.” He was the youngest of three siblings, and his family originally hailed from Lwali village in Uttar Pradesh, which is now part of Uttarakhand.
Dhoni’s journey into sports began during his school years at DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir. Initially, he played football as a goalkeeper. His coach, Keshav Banerjee, suggested that he switch to cricket. This suggestion proved pivotal in shaping Dhoni’s future in the sport.
Before making a mark in international cricket, from 2001 to 2003, Dhoni worked as a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) at Kharagpur, within the South Eastern Railway zone of the Indian Railways. This phase of his life highlights his dedication and the journey from being a railway employee to becoming one of the most prominent cricketers in the world.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s early cricket career
In the early stages of his cricketing journey, Mahendra Singh Dhoni honed his skills as a wicketkeeper and batter, gradually making a name for himself. He played for various teams and clubs, showcasing his talent and determination.
Dhoni played for the Commando cricket club from 1995 to 1998 and later joined the Central Coal Fields Limited (CCL) team in 1998. During his time at CCL, he exhibited his wicket-keeping prowess and contributed significantly with the bat. His performances were crucial to the team’s qualification to the higher division.
His impressive showings at the club level led to his selection for the 1997/98 season of the Vinoo Mankad Trophy under-16 championship. Subsequently, in the 1998–99 season, Dhoni played for the Bihar U-19 team in the Cooch Behar Trophy, where he scored 176 runs in 5 matches. The following season, Dhoni’s notable contributions helped Bihar U-19 reach the finals in the Cooch Behar Trophy. Despite the team’s loss, Dhoni scored 84 runs. His overall performance in the tournament included 488 runs in nine matches, featuring five fifties, 17 catches, and seven stumpings.
Dhoni’s skills continued to evolve, and he earned a spot in the East Zone U-19 squad for the C. K. Nayudu Trophy in the 1999–2000 season; although he scored 97 runs in four matches, East Zone finished at the bottom of the tournament.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni made his first appearance in the Ranji Trophy for Bihar against Assam in the 1999–2000 season when he was eighteen. In that match, he scored 68 runs in the second innings, marking the beginning of his first-class career. By the end of the season, he had accumulated 283 runs in 5 matches.
Dhoni’s maiden first-class century came while playing for Bihar against Bengal in the 2000–01 Ranji Trophy season. Although he managed to score a century, his subsequent performances in the 2000/01 season included no other scores over fifty. In the 2001–02 Ranji Trophy season, he recorded just five fifties in four Ranji matches.
However, Dhoni’s fortunes began to change as he represented Jharkhand in the 2002–03 Ranji Trophy and gained recognition for his lower-order contributions and aggressive batting style. In the 2003/04 season, he scored a century (128*) against Assam in the Ranji ODI and helped East Zone win the Deodhar Trophy with 244 runs in four matches.
he BCCI noticed Dhoni’s impressive performances and identified him as one of the emerging talents through their small-town talent-spotting initiative TRDW. In 2004, he was selected for India A’s tour of Zimbabwe and Kenya. During this tour, he showcased his wicket-keeping skills by effecting seven catches and four stumpings against the Zimbabwe XI in Harare Sports Club. In a tri-nation tournament featuring Kenya, India A, and Pakistan A, Dhoni played a crucial role in helping India A chase down their target of 223 against Pakistan A, scoring a half-century. His overall performance in the tournament included 362 runs in six innings at a noteworthy average of 72.40, with back-to-back centuries.
International Career of MS Dhoni
Debut and Early Years
The early 2000s saw the Indian ODI team experimenting with wicketkeepers who could also contribute significantly with the bat. Players like Rahul Dravid, Parthiv Patel, and Dinesh Karthik were tried in this role. However, it was during this time that a promising talent emerged – Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
In December 2004, Dhoni was selected for the ODI squad during the Bangladesh tour. His debut match, unfortunately, ended with a run-out for a duck. Despite this initial setback, Dhoni continued to impress and was retained for the subsequent ODI series against Pakistan.
In the second match of this series, in Visakhapatnam, Dhoni played a memorable innings. He scored 148 off 123 balls in his fifth ODI, breaking the record for the highest score by an Indian wicketkeeper. This performance marked the beginning of Dhoni’s rise in Indian cricket.
Rising Star
Dhoni’s star continued to shine in the Sri Lankan bilateral ODI series in October–November 2005. He was even promoted to No. 3 in the batting order during the third ODI at Jaipur. In that match, Dhoni played an outstanding unbeaten innings, scoring 183 runs off 145 balls, which led India to victory. The performance broke the Indian wicketkeeper’s record and set a new highest individual score in an ODI run chase. This record stood for seven years.
Dhoni’s consistency was evident throughout the series, and he ended up with the highest aggregate of 346 runs, earning him the Man of the Series award.
Establishing Himself
Dhoni’s performances earned him a regular spot in the Indian cricket team, particularly after the home series against South Africa in November 2005. In December 2005, he was awarded a “B” grade contract by the BCCI, solidifying his position as a key player.
He scored 30 runs on his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Chennai. The match was drawn due to rain. However, he soon achieved his maiden half-century in the second test, contributing to an Indian victory. Dhoni continued to impress in ODIs and Tests, including a memorable maiden test century in Faisalabad during the tour of Pakistan.
Challenges and Achievements
Despite his batting prowess, Dhoni faced criticism for his wicket-keeping skills, particularly for dropped catches and missed dismissal opportunities. Nevertheless, he persevered and continued to be a vital part of the Indian cricket team.
His journey also included T20 international cricket, as he made his debut in December 2006 against South Africa. Dhoni’s contributions led to him being named in the ICC’s ODI team of the year for 2006, highlighting his significant impact on the game during his early years on the international stage.
The 2007 Cricket World Cup Setback
In early 2007, Dhoni led India to 3–1 victories against West Indies and Sri Lanka, averaging over 100 in both series. In the 2007 Cricket World Cup, India exited in the group stage, and Dhoni faced criticism for scoring poorly. This situation escalated to the extent that vandals attacked his house.
Despite setbacks, Dhoni’s leadership journey began. He received the vice-captaincy for the 2007 Future Cup and an ‘A’ grade BCCI contract. The BCCI appointed him as captain for the inaugural World Twenty20 in September 2007, where under his leadership, India emerged victorious, marking the beginning of his captaincy across all formats.
Dhoni’s exceptional wicket-keeping skills were evident when he equaled Adam Gilchrist’s ODI dismissal record in 2007. He took his first and only wicket in 2009 during the ICC Champions Trophy.
His batting brilliance continued with an average of over 60 in the 2008-09 season and two centuries in 2009 against Sri Lanka. In ODIs, he scored 1198 runs in 2009 at an average of 70.43, topping ICC ODI batsman rankings and earning a spot in the ICC ODI Team of the Year.
2011 World Cup Triumph and Subsequent Achievements
In the 2011 Cricket World Cup hosted by India, Dhoni captained the Indian squad to victory, securing India’s second-ever ODI World Cup title. India defeated Sri Lanka in the final, with Dhoni earning the Man of the Match award for his unbeaten 91.
In December 2012, Pakistan toured India for a bilateral series after a five-year gap. Dhoni excelled by top-scoring in all three matches, including a century in the first ODI at Chennai.
Dhoni continued his winning streak by leading India to the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, thereby making him the only captain in international cricket history to win all ICC limited-overs trophies. In the rain-shortened final against England, India won by five runs on the DLS method. Dhoni was not spared from the challenges, as he was out for a duck. Nevertheless, his outstanding leadership earned him recognition as the captain and wicketkeeper of the ‘Team of the Tournament’ by the ICC.
Post the Champions Trophy, India toured West Indies for a tri-nation tournament. Dhoni’s injury sidelined him for most of the tournament. Still, he returned to play the final, where his Man of the Match performance, scoring 45 runs off 52 balls, including 16 crucial runs in the final over, led India to victory by one wicket.
In November 2013, Dhoni achieved another milestone by becoming the second Indian batsman after Sachin Tendulkar to aggregate more than a thousand runs in ODIs against Australia. Subsequently, India toured South Africa and New Zealand in the 2013–14 season. Dhoni’s contributions included 84 runs against South Africa and three consecutive 50-plus scores against New Zealand, but India lost both series. He also reached the milestone of 8000 runs in ODIs during the series against New Zealand.
Dhoni retained his captaincy as he led India in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20, where the team ended as runners-up following a loss to Sri Lanka in the final match. In recognition of his outstanding performance, Dhoni was once again honored as the captain and wicketkeeper in the ICC’s ‘Team of the Tournament.”
In 2014, India achieved ODI series victories in England and against West Indies in India, with Dhoni contributing 146 runs across five innings he batted in these series.
Test Retirement and 2015 World Cup Success
Test Retirement:
After India’s tour of Australia in December 2014, Dhoni played his final Test match. He made the significant announcement of his retirement from Test cricket following the conclusion of the third Test in Melbourne. In his farewell Test, he showcased his wicket-keeping prowess by effecting nine dismissals, comprising eight catches and a stumping. During this performance, Dhoni surpassed Kumar Sangakkara’s record for the most stumpings in international cricket. Additionally, he set a record for the most dismissals in a match by an Indian wicketkeeper, a record later broken by Wriddhiman Saha in 2018.
2015 Cricket World Cup:
Dhoni led India in the 2015 Cricket World Cup, achieving remarkable success. Under his leadership, India became the first Indian team to win all group-stage matches in a World Cup. In a match against Zimbabwe in Auckland, Dhoni displayed his batting prowess by scoring 85 runs, marking the highest score by an Indian captain in New Zealand.
Dhoni’s quarter-final victory against Bangladesh marked his 100th ODI match win, making him the first non-Australian and third overall captain to achieve this feat. Although India faced a loss to eventual champions Australia in the semi-finals, Dhoni had an outstanding series, scoring 237 runs in six innings with 59.25 as average and a strike rate of 102.15. This remarkable performance made him only the second Indian captain to maintain an average of over 50 and a strike rate of over 100 in a particular season of the World Cup.
Final Years and Retirement: A Glance at Dhoni’s Late Career
2016 Asia Cup Triumph:
Dhoni continued to shine as a leader, guiding India to victory in the 2016 Asia Cup, where India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.
Captaincy Transition – 2017:
In January 2017, Dhoni stepped down as captain of the Indian cricket team prior to the ODI series against England. However, his batting prowess remained intact as he scored an impressive 134 off 122 balls in the second game of the series, marking his tenth century in ODIs and his first in over three years.
2017 ICC Champions Trophy:
Dhoni earned recognition for his exceptional wicket-keeping skills, securing the title of ‘Team of the Tournament’ wicketkeeper at the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, where India finished as runners-up.
Stumping Milestones:
Dhoni achieved remarkable milestones in his wicket-keeping career. In August 2017, he became the first wicketkeeper to achieve 100 stumpings in ODIs during the fifth ODI against Sri Lanka. He reached another milestone by effecting 400 dismissals in ODIs in February 2018.
10,000 ODI Runs:
Despite a relatively mediocre series during India’s 2018 tour of England, where he scored 79 runs in two innings, Dhoni achieved the remarkable feat of surpassing 10,000 ODI runs, becoming the fourth Indian and twelfth overall to do so.
2018 Asia Cup and Captaincy Record:
In the 2018 Asia Cup, Dhoni’s performance was modest, with 77 runs in four innings at an average of 19.25. However, he made history by captaining India in the group-stage match against Afghanistan, becoming the first cricketer to lead India in 200 ODIs.
Ongoing Contribution and Records:
Dhoni’s contributions continued in the home series against West Indies, where he aggregated 50 runs from three innings. Despite omission from the T20I squad for certain series, he continued to be a crucial member of the ODI team.
Australia Series Triumph:
During the ODI series in Australia, Dhoni’s resilience was evident as he scored half-centuries in all three games, resulting in series victories. India secured a historic 2–1 series win, their first in a bilateral series on Australian soil. Dhoni earned the player of the series title and joined the ranks as the fourth Indian to achieve over 1,000 ODI runs in Australia.
2019 Cricket World Cup and Semi-Final:
In April 2019, Dhoni was included in India’s squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. His journey in the tournament culminated with his 350th and final ODI appearance in the semi-final loss against New Zealand on July 9, 2019.
Retirement Announcement:
On August 15, 2020, Dhoni officially announced his retirement from international cricket. This decision came after a period of inactivity since India’s loss in the 2019 World Cup semi-final.
