MS Dhoni, born Mahendra Singh Dhoni on July 7, 1981, is an Indian international cricketer and former captain of the Indian national cricket team in limited-overs formats. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest finishers in cricket history. Here's a comprehensive look at Dhoni's full details, career, and achievements.
Early Life and Background
Dhoni was born in Ranchi, Bihar (now in Jharkhand), to Pan Singh and Devki Devi. He completed his school education at DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir, Shyamali, Ranchi, and worked as a ticket checker at the Kharagpur railway station before starting his cricket career.
Domestic Career
Dhoni began his cricket career in 1997-98, playing for Bihar in the Ranji Trophy. He was later transferred to the Central Coal Fields Limited (CCL) team in Ranchi. In 2003, he made his One Day International (ODI) debut against Bangladesh. His impressive performance in the 2004 Duleep Trophy caught the attention of the national selectors, leading to his selection in the Indian squad for the 2005 ICC Cricket World Cup.
International Career
ODI and T20I Career
| Debut | Runs | Wickets | Catches |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 23, 2004, vs Bangladesh | 6,876 (as of March 2023) | 173 | 119 |
Dhoni is the only captain to win all three ICC trophies (World Cup, World T20, and Champions Trophy). He is also the first wicketkeeper to effect 100 stumpings in ODIs. He held the record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in ODIs until it was broken by Kumar Sangakkara in 2014.
Test Career
| Debut | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| December 2, 2005, vs Sri Lanka | 4,876 (as of March 2023) | 48 |
Dhoni is the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a century in Tests. He also holds the record for the most dismissals by an Indian wicketkeeper in Tests.
Captaincy
Dhoni captained the Indian team in 199 ODIs and 33 T20Is, winning 110 and 41 of them respectively. He is the most successful Indian captain in both formats. He also led India to the number one ranking in Tests, a position they held for 18 months.
Retirement and Post-Retirement
Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, 2020. He continues to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). In 2022, he became the first player to play 200 IPL matches.
Awards and Recognitions
- ICC ODI Player of the Year: 2008, 2009
- ICC T20I Player of the Year: 2009
- Padma Shri: 2009
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award: 2007-08
- Arjuna Award: 2004
- CNN-IBN Indian of the Year: 2011
