Mahendra Singh Dhoni, sometimes referred to as MS Dhoni, is a former Indian cricketer and one of the sport’s most successful leaders. Dhoni’s journey from a small town to become a legendary figure in cricket is quite amazing. He was born on July 7, 1981, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mahendra Singh Dhoni |
| Nickname | MS Dhoni, Captain Cool |
| Date of Birth | July 7, 1981 |
| Place of Birth | Ranchi, Jharkhand, India |
| Age | 41 years |
| Education | DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir, Shyamali, Ranchi |
| Cricket Career | – International Debut: December 23, 2004 |
| – Teams Played For: India, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | |
| – Playing Role: Wicket-keeper-batsman | |
| Family | – Father: Pan Singh |
| – Mother: Devki Devi | |
| – Brother: Narendra Singh Dhoni | |
| – Sister: Jayanti Gupta | |
| World Cup Victories | – ICC T20 World Cup: 2007 |
| – ICC Cricket World Cup: 2011 | |
| IPL Career | – Team: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) |
| – Captaincy: 2008-2020 | |
| – Titles: 3 (2010, 2011, 2018) | |
| Records and Awards | – Most Successful Indian Test Captain |
| – Highest Score by a Wicket-keeper Batsman in ODIs: 183* | |
| – Most Dismissals by an Indian Wicket-keeper | |
| – Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award | |
| – Padma Shri | |
| Movies | – “M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story” (2016) |
| Retirement | – Announced retirement from international cricket: August 15, 2020 |
| – Continues to play in the IPL |
Early Life and Education of MS Dhoni
Dhoni was born to Pan Singh and Devki Devi into a middle-class household. His mother was a stay-at-home mom, while his father was a junior manager at MECON (Metallurgical and Engineering Consultants Limited). Dhoni has a sister named Jayanti Gupta and an older brother named Narendra Singh Dhoni.
Dhoni participated in football and badminton as a child and displayed interest in a variety of sports. However, he chose to play cricket after being persuaded by his school’s coach. He studied at DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir in Shyamali, Ranchi, where he attained academic and athletic excellence in his early years.
MS Dhoni Family
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, also known as MS Dhoni, was born into a close-knit family in Ranchi, Jharkhand, India. Here are some details regarding his family:
- Parents:
- Father: Pan Singh Dhoni – He worked as a junior manager in MECON (Metallurgical and Engineering Consultants Limited).
- Mother: Devki Devi Dhoni – She is a homemaker.
- Siblings:
- Elder Brother: Narendra Singh Dhoni – Not much is known about his professional life.
- Sister: Jayanti Gupta – She is the elder sister of MS Dhoni.
- Wife and Children:
- Wife: Sakshi Dhoni (nee Rawat) – Dhoni married Sakshi on July 4, 2010. She is a hotel management graduate.
- Children: Dhoni and Sakshi have a daughter named Ziva Dhoni, born on February 6, 2015.
- Extended Family:
The Dhoni family is renowned for keeping a low profile and shielding their private affairs from public view. Although there is little knowledge about his extended family, Dhoni has stressed in numerous interviews and public appearances how close he is to his parents, siblings, and wife.
Despite being a public figure, Dhoni has managed to keep his family life private and concentrates on spending quality time with his loved ones when he is not involved in cricket-related obligations.
Cricket Career of MS Dhoni
Dhoni’s career in cricket began in Ranchi’s local league, when he showed off an incredible amount of talent as a wicket-keeper-batsman. The decision-makers were impressed by his skills, and he was chosen to play for Bihar U-19 in the 1999–2000 campaign.
Dhoni got a century against Assam in his Ranji Trophy debut for Bihar (since renamed Jharkhand) in 2003. He was selected for the national squad as a result of his steady play in domestic cricket, which secured him a spot in the India A team.
International Debut and Rise to Stardom of MS Dhoni
On December 23, 2004, MS Dhoni participated in his first ODI, which was against Bangladesh. His international career got off to a humble start, but he quickly showed his talent and potential with aggressive hitting and strong wicket-keeping.
In an ODI series against Pakistan in 2005, Dhoni made his breakthrough by scoring two hundred. He became known as a match-winner with to his powerful hitting style and capacity to close out games under duress. He was chosen to lead the Indian cricket team at the inaugural ICC World Twenty20, which was played in South Africa, in 2007.
Captaincy and Major Achievements of MS Dhoni
The Indian cricket team enjoyed outstanding success in every version of the game while Dhoni served as their captain. His shrewd leadership, composure, and tactical knowledge helped him establish a solid reputation. The team’s self-belief was instilled by Dhoni’s leadership approach, which placed an emphasis on developing new talent.
India won the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007 under Dhoni’s leadership, defeating Pakistan in a gripping championship match. India won the T20 World Cup for the first time thanks to this triumph. His leadership abilities were further demonstrated during the 2008 CB Series in Australia, as he led India to win over a formidable Sri Lankan and Australian squad.
Dhoni’s captaincy career reached a climax in 2011, when he led India to victory in the ICC Cricket World Cup, which was hosted by India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Under his leadership, India defeated Sri Lanka in the World Cup final, ending a 28-year wait for the trophy. Dhoni himself batted 91 not out in the final and blasted the winning six, cementing his place in Indian cricket history.
Dhoni continued to be successful as he guided India to victory in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, which was played in England. He was instrumental in leading the team to victory with his ability to remain composed under duress.
IPL Career and Chennai Super Kings
Dhoni’s journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL) was noteworthy in addition to his career with the Indian national team. In 2008’s first IPL auction, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team selected him, and they named him captain. The CSK team reached the finals in the inaugural season and won the title in 2010, 2011, and 2018 thanks in large part to Dhoni’s leadership.
The partnership between Dhoni and CSK was very successful, and the squad gained a reputation for its reliable performances and strong sense of unity. CSK were one of the most successful teams in IPL history under Dhoni’s direction by making the playoffs in each season they competed in.
Records and Achievements of MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni owns various international and IPL records. Here are a few of his major accomplishments:
- First Indian wicketkeeper in Test cricket to score over 4,000 runs.
- Indian Test skipper with the most victories (27).
- the most ODI matches of any captain in history, leading India in 200 of them.
- The highest ODI score by a wicketkeeper batsman was against Sri Lanka (183*).
- The majority of stumpings and catches by an Indian wicketkeeper in Tests, ODIs, and T20 Internationals.
- The only skipper to win the T20 World Cup, World Cup, and Champions Trophy for the International Cricket Council.
- Eight victories in a row as test captain is the most.
- Most sixes in international cricket as a captain.
- IPL’s most successful captain, winning three championships with CSK.
Awards and Recognitions of MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni has received various awards and recognition for his contributions to cricket. Among the many accolades and honors he has received are:
- India’s highest athletic prize is the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
- Padma Shri is India’s fourth highest civilian honor.
- ICC One-Day International Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009.
- CNN-IBN named him Indian of the Year in 2011.
- Wisden World’s Leading Cricketer in 2011.
- Lieutenant Colonel is an honorary rank in the Indian Territorial Army.
Movies and Other Ventures of MS Dhoni
Aside from cricket, MS Dhoni’s life was portrayed in a biographical sports film titled “M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story,” which was released in 2016. His rise from ticket collector to captain of the Indian cricket team was depicted in the film.
Retirement and Beyond of MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni has announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, 2020, signaling the end of an era. However, he remains the captain of the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. His impact on Indian cricket is immeasurable, and he is regarded as one of the finest captains and wicket-keeper-batsmen in the sport’s history.
Dhoni has also moved into several business and social initiatives since his retirement. He founded his own cricket academy and actively supports a number of humanitarian initiatives.
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