MS Dhoni has led India to three ICC Trophies (x.com/@mufaddal_vohra)
It would always be challenging to put down the career of a player like MS Dhoni in words. He has been one of the best servants of Indian cricket, taking the nation to newer heights in the game.
In this article, we will take a look at the journey of Dhoni from being an ignored name to the legend that he has become now, at the twilight of his career.
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MS Dhoni's Cricket Career
One of the most loved cricketers on the planet, MS Dhoni is nothing less than an icon. Celebrated for his calm demeanor, sharp leadership, and finishing ability under pressure, Dhoni defined the odds like never before. Coming from humble beginnings in Ranchi, he captained India to major ICC titles, including the T20 World Cup in 2007, the ODI World Cup in 2011, and the Champions Trophy in 2013.
Dhoni’s achievements are not limited to that, he also redefined the role of a wicket-keeper batsman. Even after retiring from international cricket, Dhoni's legacy continues through the IPL and his enduring influence on Indian cricket.
MS Dhoni's Career Start
MS Dhoni's Career Start (X.com/ @ExtraaaCover & @Sivy_Raina3)
MS Dhoni's incredible journey started at the DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir school in Ranchi, Jharkhand (then Bihar). Mahi, as his friends fondly called him, was spotted because of his excellent goalkeeping skills by Keshav Ranjan Banerjee the school cricket coach.
He inspired Dhoni to keep wickets for the school team. Dhoni's unusual and excellent wicketkeeping skills allowed him to be a regular keeper for the Commando Cricket Club. This set in motion an excellent journey which brought many accolades to India in the future.
MS Dhoni International Career
(x.com/@Shivayaaah)
Former Indian captain, MS Dhoni's international career i s marked by exceptional leadership, composure under pressure, and game-changing performances. Debuting in 2004, he quickly evolved into one of the world's finest wicket-keeper batsmen.
As captain, he led India to historic triumphs, including the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy. With this he became the only captain to win all three ICC white-ball titles. Renowned for his finishing skills, Dhoni often anchored tense chases with cool-headed brilliance. Beyond his batting, his sharp wicket-keeping and strategic acumen transformed Indian cricket, establishing him as one of its most successful and influential leaders.
MS Dhoni ODI Career
MS Dhoni was picked up for the Indian ODI team that went to Bangladesh in 2004. Unfortunately, he had the worst start to his career as he was run out for a duck. Even after three moderate performances in the series, Ganguly backed him, and Dhoni got selected for the next home series against Pakistan.
MS Dhoni made his debut against Bangladesh in ODIs (Source: Twitter)
Dhoni played 350 ODI matches for India. In these matches, he batted in 297 innings and scored 10,773 runs at an average of 50.57 and a strike rate of 87.56. His ODI highest score of 183* against Sri Lanka remains the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper and the second-highest in a successful chase.
MS Dhoni Test Career
MS Dhoni made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2005. The last Test match where MS represented India was against Australia in 2014.
MS Dhoni made his Test debut against Sri Lanka (Source: Twitter)
In a career that spanned nine years, MS Dhoni played 90 Tests for India. He batted in 144 innings and scored 4,876 runs at an average of 38.09. He scored 33 half-centuries and six centuries. The highest score for MS Dhoni in Test cricket was 224 against Australia at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Whenever we talk about MS Dhoni, the captain, we talk about his achievements in the limited-overs. This might be that phase of Indian cricket faced where they lost eight consecutive Tests away from home under his captaincy.
MS Dhoni's T20I Career
India won the first-ever T20I World Cup in 2007 under the leadership of MS Dhoni. This was a huge achievement for the team, as the squad that went to South Africa was as inexperienced as the skipper himself.
MS Dhoni was the captain of the Indian team in the 2007 T20 World Cup (Source: Twitter)
In 2016, India defeated Australia in a T20I series in their home by a 3-0 margin. This was the first time Australia was whitewashed in a limited-overs series on their home turf by a team.
Dhoni also became the first skipper to win the Asia Cup in the T20I format in 2016. However, MSD led team India in five more T20 World Cups but could not lift the trophy again.
MS Dhoni IPL career
The Indian Premier League has been the biggest league in the cricketing world since its inception. Whenever we talk of MS Dhoni and IPL, his association with Chennai Super Kings has been the biggest highlight.
MS Dhoni has led the CSK team form the inaugural season in 2008 (Source: Twitter)
Dhoni has led CSK in all thirteen seasons that the team has participated in the league. During this extensive period, CSK have won five trophies and have played ten finals. However, prior to the IPL 2024, the legendary leader gave up CSK's captaincy duties to Ruturaj Gaikwad to play as a player. However, due to Gaikwad's absence, Dhoni took over the captaincy again.
The imprints of MS, the leader, will forever be crept into the franchise's history. Even after years of Dhoni's absence from the game, how he led the franchise will be a lesson in building an empire from nothing.
MS Dhoni's domestic career
Following a good season at the club level, MS Dhoni was selected to play for the Central Coal Fields limited by Deval Sahay, Ranchi District Cricket President. This was his first try at the professional level of cricket, and he passed the test with flying colours. His exceptional performance gave CCL a promotion to division A and him a chance to play for the junior Bihar cricket team.
MS Dhoni's first-class career
In the 1998-99 Cooch Bihar Trophy, Dhoni played for the Bihar U-19 team and had a moderate tournament scoring 176 runs in five matches. That year did not bear much fruit in his career as he failed to get further higher-level selections.
But in the next season, he bounced back and scored 488 runs in 12 innings, affecting 24 dismissals from behind the stumps. In the final of the Cooch Bihar Trophy, he played a gutsy knock of 84 runs helping Bihar to 357. But his efforts went in vain, as his future international teammate Yuvraj Singh alone scored 358 runs helping Punjab to a mammoth total of 839.
But his performances got noticed, and he got selected for that season's Bihar team in the Ranji Trophy. He scored a fifty in his debut match against Assam. However, Dhoni's maiden first-class century came in the next season (2000-2001) against Bengal.
FAQs - MS Dhoni's Career
Q.1. What is MS Dhoni's career?
Ans. MS Dhoni's legacy is studded with records, including the most stumpings in the format (123), the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper (183*) and the most matches as captain for India (200), to name a few.
Q.2. How did MS Dhoni become successful?
Ans. His talent with the bat and later his captaincy helped MS Dhoni become so successful and everyone’s favourite.
Q.3. What was Dhoni's job before cricket?
Ans. Before becoming a cricket legend, MS Dhoni worked as a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) for the Indian Railways. He was posted at Kharagpur Railway Station in West Bengal. He worked as a TTE from 2001 to 2003.
Q.4. How many 50 Dhoni have?
Ans. MS Dhoni has a total of 108 fifties in his international career across all formats (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is). In ODIs alone, he has scored 73 fifties.
