NEWS
“MS Dhoni finishes off in style. A magnificent strike into the crowd. India lifts the World Cup after 28 years. The party’s started in the dressing room. And it’s an Indian captain who’s been absolutely magnificent, in the night of the final.”
An exhilarated Ravi Shastri screamed these words into a mic from the commentary room at a jampacked Wankhede stadium on 2 April 2011. Little did he know that these lines will be forged into every Indian cricket fan’s soul for infinity.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni or the MSD has played a crucial role in the history of Indian Cricket. Not just as the “Captain Cool” but also as a wicketkeeper, a finisher, and as a mentor. The calm attitude of MS Dhoni does not completely transcend his batting style. And thank god it does not! else we would not have experienced so many of his finishes with sixes.
Right from a highly-rated youngster with long hair and confident swagger to a captain of the Indian team and earning the status of a legend, MS Dhoni’s journey has been truly incredible and cinematic. All it is missing is a two-part biographical movie depicting his life events. Oh, wait!
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mahendra Singh Dhoni |
| Age | 39 years (as of March, 2021) |
| Sport Category | Cricket ( Wicket keeper & batsman ) |
| Date of Birth | 7 July 1981 |
| Hometown | Ranchi, Jharkhand |
| Height | 1.75 m |
| Coach | Keshav Ranjan Banerjee |
| Achievement | 2018: Padma Bhushan, 2009: Padma Shri, 2007−08: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna |
| Networth | $111 Million (786 crores) |
| Spouse | Sakshi Dhoni |
| Parent | Pan Singh, Devaki Devi |
| Children | Ziva Dhoni |
| ODI Debut | vs Bangladesh at MA Aziz Stadium, Dec 23, 2004 |
| Test Debut | vs Sri Lanka at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Dec 02, 2005 |
| T 20 Debut | vs South Africa at The Wanderers Stadium, Dec 01, 2006 |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm Medium |
| Teams Played for | Chennai Super Kings |
| IPL Debut | vs Punjab Kings at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Apr 19, 2008 |
| Captain | Team India, Chennai Super Kings |
| Alma Mater | DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir, Shyamali, Ranchi, Jharkhand |
| Playing Position | Middle Order |
| Signature Shot | Helicopter Shot |
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, or called fondly, Mahi, was born on 7 July 1981 to Pan Singh and Devaki Devi in Ranchi, Jharkhand. He was the third child after Jayanti Gupta and a brother Narendra Singh Dhoni.
As a child, Dhoni was a massive fan of Adam Gilchrist and idolized Sachin Tendulkar. Dhoni did his schooling at DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir and played sports like badminton and football.
In fact, football was his favorite sport. It was only when his PE coach saw his football goalkeeping skills and insisted Dhoni try his luck with the cricket gloves.
As luck would have it, he aced in the new sport. Years later, MSD would go on to set a benchmark for wicketkeeping in the cricketing world.
In 1995, Dhoni joined the Commando cricket club and stood behind the stumps for them for the next three years. He was then picked for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy Under-16 Championship in the 1997/98 season and he performed well.
In 1998, Dhoni started to play for the Central Coal Fields Limited (CCL) team. During his time at the CCL, Deval Sahay would gift him fifty rupees for every 6 that he scored in Sheesh Mahal tournament cricket games. Sahay then pushed for Dhoni’s selection in the Bihar team.
MS Dhoni was selected in the Bihar team for the Ranji Trophy in the 1999–2000 domestic season. The 18-year-old scored a half-century in his debut match and 68* in the second innings against Assam. Dhoni ended the season with 283 runs in 5 games. MSD’s maiden first-class century came against Bengal in the 2000/01 season.
With his career stalling, Dhoni made a desperate move to the Railways Ranji team and worked as a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) at Kharagpur railway station. Dhoni’s performance in the 2002–03 season for Bihar included three half-centuries in the Ranji Trophy and two half-centuries in the Deodhar Trophy.
Soon, he was recognized as a lower-order contribution as well as for his hard-hitting batting style. In the 2003/04 season, Dhoni managed to score 128* against Assam in the opening match of the Ranji ODI tournament.
Dhoni went on to represent the East Zone in the Deodhar Trophy 2003-04 season. Dhoni scored 244 runs in 4 matches, including a 114 against the Central zone. He was crucial as East Zone lifted the trophy. In the Duleep Trophy finals, MSD was picked over international cricketer Deep Dasgupta and scored a half-century in the second innings.
The BCCI’s small-town talent-spotting initiative- Talent Resource Development Wing (TRDW) spotted Dhoni in Jamshedpur in 2003. He sent his report to the National Cricket Academy following which he was called up for India A’s tour of Zimbabwe and Kenya.
MS Dhoni came into the Indian team at a time when there was an intense fight for the wicket-keeping spot. He made his debut during the Bangladesh tour in 2004/05. A nervous Dhoni got runout on his debut for a duck. In two matches of the series, he scored 12 and 7*.
Despite a lousy beginning to his international career, Dhoni was given another chance in Pakistan’s tour of India. In the second match, Dhoni scored 148 at Visakhapatnam to prove why he had been selected as India’s wicketkeeper over the likes of Rahul Dravid, Dinesh Karthik, and Parthiv Patel.
In the third match of the Sri Lankan bilateral ODI series in 2005, Dhoni was promoted up the order to boost the scoring, and he duly obliged! Dhoni scored 183 off 145 balls to win the game for India.
Dhoni’s continued to perform well, both with the bat and behind the stumps leading into the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007. However, things turned terrible as India was knocked out of the World Cup after losing to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. In both the matches Dhoni got out on 0, leading to anger among cricket fans.
Post World Cup, Dhoni came back strongly with a 91* against Bangladesh. As a reward, he was handed the vice-captaincy in the series against South Africa. MSD then scored 6 half-centuries in tours against England, Pakistan, Australia, and Sri Lanka.
Dhoni was named the full-time captain in the 7-match ODI series against Australia. This was the beginning of a new inning for both India and MS Dhoni. With the bat, Dhoni went on either with chipping in vital runs or finishing games for the Indian middle-order.
MS Dhoni has featured in four World Cups, 2 as a captain. Under his captaincy, India lifted the World Cup in 2011 and reached the semifinals in 2015.
MS Dhoni with 2011 CWC trophy
Owing to good performances in the middle order as well as behind the stumps, MSD was selected for the World Cup in the Caribbean. India had a disappointing campaign as they lost two of the three group games against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Dhoni had horrible innings as he got out duck in both the games. The team, including Dhoni, was highly criticized for their performances. Around 200 fans attacked Dhoni’s under-construction home in Ranchi after the Bangladesh loss.
By the 2011 WC, Dhoni was the captain of all three Test, T20I, and ODI’s. Dhoni’s major contribution with the bat came in the finals against Sri Lanka. Chasing 275 at the Wankhede, Dhoni promoted himself up the order after Sachin, Sehwag, and Virat Kohli lost their wickets early.
Dhoni and Gambir then build a steady partnership to stabilize the Indian innings. Dhoni scored 91* off 79 deliveries. He scored the winning six of Numan Kulaeskara, a shot which no one will forget, and won the Man of the Match award.
Dhoni’s crucial decision to promote himself up the order to put off Muralitharan’s spin threat and right hand-left hand combo showed why he was one of India’s best captains.
Under Dhoni’s captaincy in the 2015 World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand, the Men in Blue were able to reach the semi-finals with comfort, beating Bangladesh in the quarter-finals. However, they went on to lose to hosts Australia in the semi-finals at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
India had won 7 consecutive matches in the World Cup 2015 and won 11 straight games overall. After beating Bangladesh, MSD became the first non-Australian captain to win 100 ODI matches, and the first Indian captain to hold the record.
He scored 237 runs in 6 matches with an average of 59.25. His 45* and 85* against West Indies and Zimbabwe helped India on the road to the semi-finals. He scored 65 against Australia in the semis but was not able to prevent the Aussies to run over India on their way to glory.
MSD played his last World Cup at the age of 38. This time around, he was India’s wicketkeeper leading into the tournament. Despite his handy knocks against South Africa, Australia, and West Indies, MSD was primarily criticized for his strike rate and ‘lack of intent’.
In the semis against New Zealand, Dhoni scored a fighting half-century and built a promising partnership with Ravinder Jadeja after the top-order fell. It looked like India was on its way to the final. But, Dhoni got run out at a crucial stage, breaking a billion dreams.
MSD replaced Dinesh Karthik as the wicketkeeper in tests in 2005. On his test debut, Dhoni scored 30 in a match washed away by rain. He scored his first half-century in the second test against Sri Lanka.
During the India tour of Pakistan in early 2006, MS Dhoni scored his first century as he along with Irfan Pathan helped India avoid a follow-on. However, he was unable to perform in the third match as India lost both the test and the series. His prosaic performances continued into the first two matches during the England tour of India.
He came back with a 64 in the final test but could not stop the English from leveling the series. Since then, Dhoni continued to be in the test team until the 2014-15 season when he decided it was time to focus on the shorter format of the game.
Dhoni holds various test records. With the bat, his 244 against Australia in Chennai was the third-highest test score by an Indian captain. He also registered the highest score by an Indian wicket-keeper. Furthermore, it was the most runs scored in an innings by a wicket-keeper–captain. His century against Pakistan was the fastest by an Indian wicket-keeper and fourth overall.
MSD has been a part of the Indian T20 team from the start. He was one of the 11 players to play India’s first-ever T20 international match against South Africa in 2006. Despite his duck, a lucky India won the match. However, when they faced the proteas in the 2007 ICC T20 Championships, Dhoni scored 45 as India won the match.
Since then Dhoni went on to lead the Indian team in the inaugural T20 championships and various T20 international victories. Apart from his role as wicketkeeper-captain, he played an important role as a finisher for India in T20’s.
Just before the inaugural T20 World Cup 2007, MS Dhoni was named to lead the team. India ended up lifting the trophy. Apart from his role as a captain, MSD played an essential role in the middle order as a finishing batsman. His innings in the semi-finals against Australia helped India to a 15-run victory and a place in the finals.
While he was unable to push India to a satisfying target. MSD’s captainship and cool-headedness in the final over led India to a victory against Pakistan in the final. Dhoni also played an important role in India’s run to the final of the 2014 T20 World Championships. He was declared in the Team of the tournament.
After the 2007 World T20 success, MS Dhoni was recruited in the Indian Premier League by Chennai Super Kings. He was the most expensive player in season one. Under his leadership, the CSK side went on to win the 2010 and 2011 IPL titles.
In 2015, the franchise was suspended along with Rajasthan Royals from the IPL. Rising Pune Supergiants then purchased him for $1.9 million. He led the side for two seasons before returning to the CSK. Once he returned, Dhoni-led CSK to the IPL title in 2018 and scored 455 runs in the tournament finals.
Mumbai: BCCI acting president CK Khanna presents IPL 2018 Trophy to Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on May 27, 2018. Chennai beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets in the final to lift the title. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
The next year, he was Chennai’s high scorer with 416 runs in their run to the finals. Dhoni scored 3 half-centuries- 75*, 58, and 84* against RR and RCB.
MS Dhoni has scored 16 centuries in international cricket, with 10 in ODIs and 6 in Test cricket. His first century came in 2005 against Pakistan. He scored 148 to help India to a 58 run victory. Dhoni then scored 183* in 145 balls to power India chase Sri Lanka’s 298 in 46 overs at Jaipur.
During India’s tour of Pakistan, MSD scored 148 in the first innings of the 2nd test at Faislabad to help the Men in Blue draw the match. Dhoni’s next century came for Asia XI against Africa XI. In a star-studded match, Mahi scored 139 in 97 balls as Asia won by 13 runs.
His next century came in the Asia Cup 2008 against minnows Hong Kong. He scored an unbeaten 109 as India posted a massive total of 374. Following the Asia Cup, Dhoni continues his good form into Australia’s tour of India in October 2009. Dhoni scored 124 in 107 balls as India posted 354.
He followed it up with another century against Sri Lanka in the 3rd test of the Sri Lanka tour. He scored 100* in the same match when Sehwag scored 293. India won by an innings and 24 runs. Dhoni ended 2009 with 4 centuries. His last century was against Sri Lanka in a losing cause.
Dhoni continued his good form in 2010 as well. In the match against Bangladesh, he scored 101* as India chased down 296 in 47.3 overs. Dhoni scored his next century against South Africa. He was the fourth Indian to score a century in the same innings after Sehwag, VVS Laxman, and Tendulkar.
In the second test against West Indies, MSD scored 144 runs as India posted 631 on the board and won the match an innings and 15 runs. His last century came against Pakistan when he scored 113 in the 1st ODI at Chennai. Incidentally, Dhoni scored his first and last century against Pakistan.
MSD has one double century which came in the first test against Australia at Chennai. He scored 224 runs as India posted 572 on the scoreboard. India won the match by 8 wickets. In the match, Mahi broke three records.
He posted the third-highest score by an Indian captain, the highest Test score by an Indian wicket-keeper, and the highest score by a wicket-keeper-captain.
MS Dhoni is married to Sakshi Singh Rawat. She was born, on 19 November 1988 to RK Singh and Sheila Singh in the Guwahati city of Assam. She went to Welham Girls’ School in Dehradun, Uttrakhand, and completed her schooling education from Jawahar Vidya Mandir in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
Sakshi then completed her hotel management from the Institute of Hotel Management in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, and was interning at Taj Bengal in Kolkata. MSD’s manager Yudhaji Dutta introduced them. The couple starting dating in March 2008 and got married on 4 July 2010. The couple is blessed with a lovely daughter, Ziva on the 6th of February in 2015.
His daughter is a huge stress reliever for him and has already become a media darling. “She’s hardly six years old, but she has her own character.
Wherever I go, people ask me, ‘where is Ziva’ or ‘what is she doing. I am nowhere in the scene,” Dhoni told Mid-Day in an interview.
Ziva and Sakshi Dhoni 
Sakshi and MS Dhoni |
Ziva Dhoni was born in Ranchi on the 6th of February in 2015, becoming an internet sensation at a young age. She was born when the Indian team, under MS Dhoni, was preparing to defend their World Cup title in Australia. Thus, the 39-year old could not be with her to spend time.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s net worth is estimated to be around ₹786.53 crores ($111 million). He earns millions through his endorsements like Indian Terrain, Colgate, RedBus, Panerai, LivFast, GoDaddy, Orient Fans, Snickers India, NetMeds, and Dream 11.
As an entrepreneur, Dhoni has stakes in various ventures. He owns stakes in football club Chennaiyin FC, Mahi Racing Team India, and Ranchi Rays.
He also holds the position of Vice President (Marketing) at India Cements. His contract with Chennai Super Kings is worth Rs 15 Crore. According to BCCI, Dhoni’s retainer fee is $209256 (2 crores), Test fee is $23194 (15 lakh), ODI fee is $9277 (6 lakh), and T20 Fee is $4638 (3 lakh).
Dhoni owns a residence in Dehradun worth $27 million. He operates a hotel, Hotel Mahi Residency, in Jharkhand. Another of his business venture is a chain of gyms across the country.
Earlier in 2018, Panerai, an Italian luxury sports watchmaker, announced its collaboration with India’s cricketing icon Mahendra Singh Dhoni as their Brand Ambassador for India.
Besides, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a sports cars and bikes enthusiast. He owns Porsche 911, Hummer H2, Audi Q7, Ferrari 599 GTO, GMC Sierra, Confederate Hellcat X132, Harley-Davidson FatBoy, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14, Ducati 1098, Yamaha RD350, Yamaha Thundercat, Kawasaki Ninja H2, and Rajdoot.
Batting
| M | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 200 | 50 | 4s | 6s | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 90 | 144 | 16 | 4876 | 224 | 38.09 | 8248 | 59.12 | 6 | 1 | 33 | 544 | 78 |
| ODI | 350 | 297 | 84 | 10773 | 183 | 50.58 | 12303 | 87.56 | 10 | 0 | 73 | 826 | 229 |
| T20I | 98 | 85 | 42 | 1617 | 56 | 37.6 | 1282 | 126.13 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 116 | 52 |
| IPL | 204 | 182 | 69 | 4632 | 84 | 40.99 | 3387 | 136.76 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 313 | 216 |
“Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout. from 1929hrs consider me as retired,” Dhoni posted on his Instagram account.
On the 15th of August 2020, breaking millions of hearts all across the globe, MS Dhoni announced his retirement from all formats of the game.
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