Mahendra Singh Dhoni, commonly known as MS Dhoni, is one of the most successful and popular cricketers in the history of Indian cricket. He has captained India to many glorious victories, including the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, the 2011 Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. He is also the current captain of Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he has led his team to four titles.
But how did MS Dhoni become such a legend? In this article, we will take a look at his journey from his debut in 2004 till his last match in 2019.
MS Dhoni was born on 7 July 1981 in Ranchi, Bihar (now Jharkhand), India1. He belonged to a middle-class family and his father was a pump operator. He had a passion for sports since childhood and played badminton, football, and cricket. He was a goalkeeper for his school football team and was selected for district level cricket after impressing with his wicket-keeping skills.
He made his debut in domestic cricket for Bihar in 1999/00 season and later moved to Jharkhand after its formation. He scored heavily in domestic tournaments like Ranji Trophy and Deodhar Trophy and caught the attention of national selectors. He made his international debut in ODI against Bangladesh in 2004 but was run out for a duck.
He soon proved his worth with some brilliant innings like 148 against Pakistan in Visakhapatnam and 183* against Sri Lanka in Jaipur. He became one of India’s most reliable batsmen in limited-overs formats with his ability to finish matches with big hits. He also established himself as one of the best wicket-keepers in world cricket with his quick reflexes and unconventional style.
He was appointed as India’s captain for the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007 after some senior players opted out. He led a young Indian side to victory against Pakistan in the final at Johannesburg. His calm demeanor and innovative tactics earned him praise from all quarters.
He continued his success as captain by leading India to their first-ever bilateral ODI series win in Sri Lanka in 2008 and also won the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, India's highest sporting honour. He also made his debut as a full-time Test captain against Australia in Nagpur in 2008 and led India to a series win.
He won the ICC ODI Player of the Year award for two consecutive years in 2008 and 2009, becoming the first player to do so. He also led India to their first-ever bilateral ODI series win in New Zealand in 2009 and was honoured with the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award.
He achieved his biggest feat as captain by leading India to their second World Cup title after 28 years in 2011. He played a match-winning knock of 91 not out against Sri Lanka in the final at Mumbai and finished the game with a six over long-on off Nuwan Kulasekara. He was named Man of the Match for his heroics.
He also led Chennai Super Kings to their second IPL title in 2011 by beating Royal Challengers Bangalore by 58 runs in Bengaluru. He became one of the most successful captains in IPL history with four titles under his belt.
He added another feather to his cap by leading India to their first-ever ICC Champions Trophy title in England in 2013. He became the only captain to win all three major ICC trophies - World T20, World Cup and Champions Trophy
He also led India to victory in two Asia Cup tournaments - one each in ODI and T20 format - in 2010 and 2016 respectively. He also guided India to become No.1 Test team for two brief periods - from December 2009 to August 2011 and from January to August 2016.
He retired from Test cricket after playing his last match against Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 26, 2014. He scored a total of 4,876 runs from 90 Tests at an average of 38.09 with six centuries and 33 fifties. He also effected a record of a record of 294 dismissals (256 catches and 38 stumpings) as a wicket-keeper.
He stepped down as ODI and T20 captain in January 2017 after leading India in 199 ODIs and 72 T20Is. He scored a total of 10,773 runs from 350 ODIs at an average of 50.57 with 10 centuries and 73 fifties. He also effected a record of 444 dismissals (321 catches and 123 stumpings) as a wicket-keeper.
He played his last match for India in the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup against New Zealand at Manchester on July 10, 2019. He scored a fighting half-century but was run out by a direct hit from Martin Guptill in the penultimate over as India fell short by 18 runs.
He announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, 2020 through an Instagram post with a video montage of his career highlights. He wrote: “Thanks - Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout.from 1929 hrs consider me as Retired”.
MS Dhoni is widely regarded as one of the greatest captains and finishers in cricket history. He has won many accolades and awards for his achievements, including the ICC ODI Player of the Year (2008,2009), the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award (2011), the LG People’s Choice Award (2013), and the ICC Award for Team of The Decade Captain (2020).
He has also been conferred with honorary ranks by Indian armed forces - Lieutenant Colonel by Indian Territorial Army (2011) and Honorary Group Captain by Indian Air Force (2015). He is also a recipient of several civilian honours - Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2008), Padma Shri (2009), Padma Bhushan (2018).
MS Dhoni’s journey from a small-town boy to an international cricket icon is an inspiring story of passion, hard work, dedication, and leadership. He has left an indelible mark on Indian cricket with his achievements and charisma. He will always be remembered as one of the legends of the game.
