Former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni recently declared his retirement on 74thIndependence Day. The best-known wicket keeper and perhaps the most adored captain of Indian cricket team, declared his leaving from international cricket on social media platform. He acknowledged his send-off at the time of pandemic when cricket has been suspended globally.
Earlier, he declared his retirement from Test cricket in the middle of a Test series against Australia in 2014. He decided to step down from limited-overs captaincy after which Virat Kohli took over as captain against Pakistan in 2017. The former captain will continue to play in the Indian Premier league.
“Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout. From 1929 hrs considered me as retired” MS Dhoni’s official statement on Instagram read.
Your contribution to Indian cricket has been immense, @msdhoni. Winning the 2011 World Cup together has been the best moment of my life. Wishing you and your family all the very best for your 2nd innings,” tweeted Tendulkar.
Journey of a legend
MS Dhoni’s journey of cricket has been incredible. Dhoni has played 350 ODI, recorded 10,773 runs with an average of 50.57 with 10 centuries, and 73 half-centuries. He scored highest 183 off 145 balls in ODI against Sri Lanka. In the test, he scored his highest 224 runs against Australia. In 98, T20 internationals, he scored 1,617 runs at an average of 37.60.
He debuted his career under the captainship of Saurabh Ganguly in 2004 but was out of duck in his first ODI against Bangladesh. Later, in his 5thODI, he blasted 148 off 123 balls against Pakistan and proclaimed his arrival in majestic cricket saga. He was also awarded man of the match in the finals against Sri Lanka for his score of 91 not out in 2005.
He was an absolute game-changer as a wicketkeeper in limited-overs cricket and far ahead considered as one of the best captains in the history of Indian cricket. He takes over the reins of ODI captaincy from Rahul Dravid in 2007. He then led a young Indian team to the first-ever T20 World Cup victory in South Africa in 2007.
In 2008 Dhoni made his debut as full-time Test captain of India and replaces Anil Kumble during the fourth and final test against Australia and in the same year he wins the ICC ODI player of the year honor and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
In 2009, India tops the ICC Test cricket ranking for the first time under Dhoni’s captaincy. After this, he becomes the first player to win ICC ODI player of the year award twice. During this year he was also awarded Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award.
In 2010, Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings to their initial Indian Premier League title. CSK beat Mumbai Indians by 22 runs. He was the most expensive player in the IPL for the first season Premier League titles and the 2010 and 2014 Champions League T20 titles. He was known as one of the most successful captains of IPL. He led CSK to eight finals and wins 3 out of them.
His most significant contribution was to lead India in the victory of second ODI World Cup in 2011. He plays his most remarkable match-winning unbeaten knock –91 off 79 balls against Sri Lanka and help India to win the World cup trophy after 28 years.
In 2013, Dhoni became the most successful Indian Test captain, broke Saurabh Ganguly record of 21 wins from 49 tests. During this year, India beat England by 5 runs in the final and wins the ICC Champions Trophy and Dhoni become the first captain to win all three ICC Trophies.
“What you’ve done for the country will always remain in everyone’s heart, but the mutual respect and warmth I’ve received from you will always stay in mine. The world has seen achievements, I’ve seen the person. Thanks for everything skip. I tip my hat to you,” wrote Indian cricket Captain Virat Kohli on Twitter.
Unbeatable techniques
In his 15-year-long career, Dhoni has received the distinction of being called as “Captain Cool”, his strategies are expressed as “Mahi’s way” and he has been credited as the inventor of a newly-developed “helicopter shot.” With the biggest uprising in the art of wicketkeeping in his time: he stumped without any give, he jammed his leg out to stop late cuts, he bounced throws for direct hits, and he stood upright with pads together to halt half-volleys.
It was in the abbreviated versions that he was at his supreme best, activating those helicopter sixes. Effecting intricate stumping, reckless running between the wickets, being canny in his field placements, and making his men believe that they could win big trophies. Subsequently, the one who could lead from the front, always calm at tough times and yet at the time of victory, the one who grandstand upright at the front.
The finest finisher
MS Dhoni was considered as the best finisher of all times. The best 11 unforgettable finishes were credited to his account. He has the ability to chase each ball and that made him the biggest nightmare for the bowlers. MS Dhoni has led India to famous victories with successful chases, if there is one phrase that has chased him all his cricketing life, it has been “India’s best finisher”.
Nobody’s has Dhoni’s nerve for finishing off victories. Many times, I have thought, “He’s left it too late this time”, only to be amazed as he produced a couple of powerful shots to bring India a nail-biting victory,” Former Australian Captain wrote in his column.
He imprinted his position with the tendency to finish off games with incredible talents. The no. 7 role he has been rendered seems to be the perfect lineup for the team. There was a time when Commentators and cricket experts bet whether Dhoni would finish the game off with a six.
T20I Cricket
◆ Most wins in T20Is as captain – 41
◆ Most matches as captain in T20Is – 72
◆ Most matches in T20I history as both captain and wicket-keeper – 72
◆ Most consecutive T20I innings without a duck – 84
◆ Dhoni holds the record for playing the most T20I innings – 76 and scored the most runs – 1,153 before scoring a fifty.
◆ Most dismissals as wicket-keeper in T20Is – 87
◆ Most catches as wicket-keeper in T20Is – 54
◆ Most stumpings as wicket-keeper in T20Is – 33
◆ Most catches as wicketkeeper in T20I innings – 5
International Records Test cricket
◆ Led India to #1. Test cricket rankings for the first time, in 2009.
◆ Most successful Indian Test captain with 27 Test wins.
◆ Most overseas Test defeats by an Indian captain — 15.
◆ First Indian wicket-keeper to complete 4,000 Test runs.
◆ Third highest score by an Indian captain — 224 against Australia in Chennai.
◆ Fastest century scored by an Indian wicket-keeper, and fourth overall — 148 v Pak
◆ 50 sixes by an Indian captain.
◆ Most dismissals list by Indian wicket-keepers — 294
◆ Most stumpings by any wicket-keeper in Test career – 38
◆ Most dismissals in an innings by an Indian Wicket Keeper – 6 tied with Syed Kirmani
ODI cricket
◆ Third captain (and the first non-Australian) overall
to win 100 games.
◆ Fourth Indian to reach 10,000 ODI runs.
◆ The first player to pass 10,000 runs in ODI cricket with having a career average of over 50.
◆ Dhoni has the fifth-highest batting average (51.09) with more than 5,000 runs
◆ Most career runs in ODI history when batting at
number 6 position – 4031
◆ The only player to score more than one hundred in ODI cricket when batting at number 7 position or lower — 2
◆ Most not outs in ODIs — 82
◆ First Indian and fifth overall to hit 200 sixes in ODIs.
◆ Highest score by a wicket-keeper in ODIs — 183* vs SL
◆ India’s highest eighth-wicket partnership in ODIs — 100 runs not out, Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
◆ Most unbeaten innings and highest average in
successful ODI run-chases.
◆ Played the most matches in ODI history as captain who has also served as a wicket-keeper — 200
◆ Most dismissals in an innings by an Indian Wicket Keeper — 6
◆ Most dismissals in a career by an Indian Wicket Keeper career — 432
◆ Most stumpings by any wicket-keeper in an ODI career — 120
◆ First Indian wicket-keeper to take 300 ODI catches and fourth wicket-keeper in the world to achieve
the feat.
International records (combined ODI, Test and T20I)
◆ Most international matches as captain – 332
◆ Dhoni is the first, and so far only, wicket-keeper to effect 150 stumping dismissals across the three forms of the game. His current total of stumpings in internationals stands at 161.
MS Dhoni: Awards and Accolades
National honors
◆ 2018: Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award.
◆ 2009: Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award.
◆ 2007−08: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India’s highest honor given for achievement in sports.
Sporting honors
◆ ICC ODI Player of the Year: 2008, 2009
◆ ICC World ODI XI: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 (captain in 2009, 2011-2014)
◆ ICC World Test XI: 2009, 2010, 2013
◆ Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year: 2011
Other honors and awards
◆ MTV Youth Icon of the Year: 2006
◆ LG People’s Choice Award: 2013
◆ Honorary doctorate degree by De Montfort University in August 2011.
MS Dhoni – Along the years
Year Age Achievement
2004 23 ODI Debut
2005 24 International Test Debut
2006 25 T20I Debut
2007 26 Captained India to first World T20 victory
2008 26 IPL Debut : Chennai Super Kings
2009 27 Captained Chennai Super Kings to first IPL victory
2009 28 Led India to #1. Test Ranking
2009 28 Awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour
2010 28 Captained Chennai Super Kings to second IPL victory
2011 30 Captained India to their World Cup victory
2013 33 Captained India to Champions Trophy victory
2018 36 Captained Chennai Super Kings to second IPL victory
2018 37 Awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian honour
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