New Delhi: Former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, fondly known as MS Dhoni, turned 42 on Friday, marking another milestone in his illustrious cricketing career. Dhoni, hailed as one of the greatest wicketkeeper-batsmen, is renowned for leading Team India to several notable victories, including three major ICC trophies.
Dhoni’s journey from being a ticket collector at a railway station to becoming India’s most successful captain is a story of inspiration and determination. He burst onto the international scene in 2004 as a ferocious hitter of the cricket ball and gradually evolved into a calculated finisher known for his impeccable tactics.
In the longer format of the game, Dhoni played 90 Test matches, amassing 4,876 runs at an average of 38.09. He registered six centuries and 33 half-centuries, with a high score of 224. As a captain, Dhoni led India in 60 Tests, securing victory in 27 matches, suffering 18 defeats, and drawing 15. With a win percentage of 45.00, he is hailed as one of India’s most successful skippers, guiding the team to the number one ranking in the ICC Test Rankings. Additionally, he holds the distinction of being the only Indian captain to achieve a whitewash against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, accomplishing the feat in the 2010–11 and 2012–13 series.
Dhoni’s prowess in One Day Internationals (ODIs) is widely recognised, where he played 350 matches and amassed 10,773 runs at an impressive average of 50.57. With 10 centuries and 73 fifties to his name, including a best score of 183*, he stands as India’s fifth-highest run-scorer in ODIs. In terms of overall ODI records, he ranks 11th among the most successful batters of all time. Dhoni’s ability to consistently perform while batting lower down the order makes his statistics all the more astonishing.
As captain in the ODI format, Dhoni led India in 200 matches, winning 110 and losing 74, with five ties and 11 no-results, resulting in a win percentage of 55. In the T20 Internationals (T20Is), he played 98 matches, accumulating 1,617 runs at an average of 37.60 and a strike rate of 126.13. With 634 catches, he holds the third-highest number of catches in international cricket history, along with 195 stumpings, the highest by any wicketkeeper.
Beyond his international achievements, Dhoni had remarkable success in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the captain of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Under his leadership, CSK clinched the IPL title five times (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023) and the Champions League T20 title twice (2010 and 2014). Dhoni’s contribution as a middle-order batter in the IPL is noteworthy, having scored 5,082 runs in 250 matches at an average of 38.79.
As Dhoni celebrates his 42nd birthday, cricket enthusiasts around the world reflect on his extraordinary achievements and the impact he has had on the sport. His unparalleled leadership, astute decision-making, and exceptional skills as a wicketkeeper-batsman have left an indelible mark on Indian cricket. It is unlikely that the cricketing world will witness another phenomenon quite like “Captain Cool” in the foreseeable future.
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