South Africa marked the commencement of the SA20 competition with great enthusiasm. It’s noteworthy that Coach Stephen Fleming and various other members of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coaching staff have affiliations with the Joburg Super Kings (JSK). However, Dhoni is unable to join in due to BCCI regulations. These regulations dictate that no Indian player can participate in the competition unless they retire from Indian cricket, including the IPL.
As Dhoni remains actively engaged in the IPL even after retiring from international cricket, he cannot affiliate himself with JSK in any capacity. However, once he retires from the IPL, he will be permitted to lead JSK. Subsequently, he will have the opportunity to participate in the SA20 and continue practicing his craft.
Biography of MS Dhoni
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, commonly known as MS Dhoni, is a celebrated Indian cricketer who has retired from international cricket. He holds the distinction of being the only captain in cricket history to secure victories in all ICC tournaments. On July 7, fans and the cricket community worldwide took to social media to extend warm wishes to the legendary cricketer as he marked his 40th birthday.
Birth, Family and Education of MS Dhoni
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, widely known as MS Dhoni, was born on July 7, 1981, in Ranchi, Bihar (now Jharkhand), into a Hindu Rajput family. His father, Pan Singh, originally from the Lamgara block in Almora, Uttarakhand, relocated to Ranchi, where he held junior management positions at MECON. Dhoni has a sister named Jayanti Gupta and a brother named Narendra Singh Dhoni.
Dhoni attended DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir in Ranchi, Jharkhand, where he showcased his talent in various sports, including badminton, football, and cricket. In football, he served as a goalkeeper for his team, while in cricket, he actively participated in a local club.
Dhoni demonstrated remarkable wicket-keeping abilities while playing for the Commando Cricket Club between 1995 and 1998. His performance earned him a spot in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy Under-16 Championship during the 1997-98 season, where he showcased his skills. Following his high school education, Dhoni decided to dedicate himself to cricket.
Between 2001 and 2003, Dhoni served as a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) at Kharagpur Railway Station, which falls under the South Eastern Railway in West Bengal.
Personal Life of MS Dhoni
Before tying the knot with his schoolmate Sakshi Singh Rawat, MS Dhoni experienced a poignant love story with Priyanka Jha, whom he met in his early twenties. This was around 2002, when Dhoni was earnestly striving to secure a spot in the Indian cricket team. Tragically, in the same year, Priyanka lost her life in an accident. Subsequently, Dhoni also had a relationship with South Indian actress, Lakshmi Rai. Finally, Mahendra Singh Dhoni exchanged vows with Sakshi Singh Rawat, his childhood friend from DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir, on July 4, 2010. At the time of their marriage, Sakshi was pursuing a hotel management course as a trainee at Taj Bengal in Kolkata.
On February 6, 2015, MS Dhoni and Sakshi welcomed their daughter, whom they named Ziva. Despite the joyous occasion, Dhoni was away in Australia, with the 2015 Cricket World Cup just a week ahead. Rather than returning home to be with his family, Dhoni remained committed to his national duty, stating, “I am on national duty; other things can wait.”
Awards of MS Dhoni
- In 2018, MS Dhoni was honored with India’s third-highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan.
- He received India’s fourth-highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, in 2009.
- For his outstanding achievements in sports during 2007-2008, Dhoni was bestowed with India’s highest sporting honor, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna.
- Dhoni was recognized as the ICC ODI Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009.
- From 2006 to 2014, Dhoni was consistently named in the ICC World ODI XI for his remarkable performances in One Day Internationals.
- In 2009, 2010, and 2013, MS Dhoni was recognized in the ICC World Test XI.
- He was honored as the Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year in 2011.
- Dhoni was awarded the title of MTV Youth Icon of the Year in 2006.
- He received the LG People’s Choice Award in 2013.
- In August 2011, Dhoni was conferred with an honorary doctorate from De Montfort University.
Movies of MS Dhoni
In 2016, a biographical Bollywood film depicting the life of MS Dhoni was released. The movie chronicled his journey from childhood to the 2011 Cricket World Cup, with Sushant Singh Rajput portraying the lead role. Titled ‘M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story’, it captured various aspects of Dhoni’s life and career.
On March 20, 2019, Hotstar released a web series titled ‘Roar of the Lion’, focusing on MS Dhoni’s life and his journey with the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
MS Dhoni: Playing Style
MS Dhoni, a right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper, gained fame for his aggressive lower-order batting style, although he adapted his approach as he took on the role of captaincy. Renowned for his quick running between the wickets, Dhoni’s iconic Helicopter Shot, beloved by fans, was a technique imparted to him by his childhood friend and fellow player, Santosh Lal.
In addition to his batting prowess, MS Dhoni is highly acclaimed for his exceptional wicket-keeping abilities, a sentiment echoed by numerous cricket experts. Renowned for his lightning-fast stumpings, he holds the world record for the highest number of stumpings by any wicket-keeper. Dhoni’s versatility extends to his occasional role as a medium-fast bowler for the Indian Cricket team.
Cricket Career of MS Dhoni
In 1998, MS Dhoni’s talent caught the attention of Deval Sahay during the Sheesh Mahal tournament cricket matches, where he played for the school cricket team and club cricket. Sahay, impressed by Dhoni’s powerful batting, rewarded him with Rs 50 for every six he hit. Subsequently, Dhoni was selected for the Central Coal Fields Limited (CCL) team. Sahay, recognizing Dhoni’s dedication and cricketing prowess, advocated for his inclusion in the Bihar team. Despite not making it to the East Zone U-19 squad or the Rest of India squad for various tournaments, Dhoni’s exceptional performance earned him a spot in the senior Bihar Ranji Team for the 1999-2000 season at the age of 18.
The Bihar U-19 team, with MS Dhoni, reached the finals but fell short of clinching the title. Following this, Dhoni earned a spot in the East Zone U-19 squad for the CK Nayudu Trophy. Despite the team’s struggles and losses in the tournament, Dhoni’s individual performance stood out, although the squad finished at the bottom of the table.
In the 2002-2003 season, representing the Jharkhand Team in both the Ranji Trophy and Deodhar Trophy, MS Dhoni garnered attention for his impactful performances in the lower order and his aggressive batting approach.
In the Duleep Trophy Finals, MS Dhoni was chosen ahead of established international cricketer Deep Dasgupta to represent the East Zone team. His talent was spotted through TRDW, a talent-spotting initiative by the BCCI. Prakash Poddar, former captain of Bengal in the 1960s, identified Dhoni’s potential and sent a report to the National Cricket Academy.
Dhoni earned a spot in the India A team for a tour of Zimbabwe and Kenya. During a match against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club, he showcased exceptional wicket-keeping skills with 7 catches and 4 stumpings. In a tri-nation tournament involving Kenya, India A, and Pakistan A, Dhoni played a crucial role in India’s victory over Pakistan, contributing with a half-century. Throughout the tournament, he amassed 362 runs in 6 innings at an impressive average of 72.40. His stellar performance caught the attention of prominent figures in Indian cricket, including then Captain Sourav Ganguly and Ravi Shastri.
Following his stint with the India A team, Dhoni earned a spot in the ODI squad for the Bangladesh tour in 2004/05. Unfortunately, he was run out for a duck in his debut match. Despite a modest performance in the series against Bangladesh, Dhoni was retained for the ODI series against Pakistan. It was in the second match of this series that Dhoni made a significant mark, smashing 148 runs off 123 balls, setting a new record for the highest score by an Indian wicket-keeper.
Dhoni participated in the first two matches of the Sri Lankan Bilateral ODI series held between October and November 2005. In the third ODI at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, he was elevated to No. 3 in the batting order. Dhoni showcased a brilliant performance, smashing an unbeaten 183 off just 145 balls against Sri Lanka, leading India to victory. As a result, he was honored with the Man of the Series award. Additionally, in December 2015, Dhoni was awarded a B-grade contract by the BCCI.
During a series against Pakistan, Dhoni’s remarkable performance was evident as he scored 72 runs off 46 balls in the third match, contributing significantly to India’s 2-1 lead in the series. In the final match, he continued his stellar form, scoring 77 runs off 56 balls, ultimately leading India to clinch the series with a 4-1 victory. This impressive display earned him the top spot in the ICC ODI Rankings on April 20, 2006, surpassing Ricky Ponting. However, India faced disappointments in tournaments such as the DLF Cup 2006-07 and the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy.
Following India’s disappointing exit from the 2007 Cricket World Cup, Dhoni faced criticism for his lackluster performance, particularly being dismissed for a duck in matches against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The backlash escalated to the extent that activists of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) vandalized Dhoni’s house. Concerns for his family’s safety prompted authorities to provide police protection after India’s early departure from the tournament.
Dhoni’s leadership prowess was acknowledged when he was appointed vice-captain of the ODI team for the series against South Africa and England. His stellar performance earned him an A Grade contract from the BCCI in June 2007. Subsequently, in September 2007, Dhoni was entrusted with the captaincy for the World Twenty20 matches, marking a significant milestone in his career. During the same month, Dhoni achieved a remarkable feat, sharing a record with his idol Adam Gilchrist for the most dismissals in an innings in ODIs.
In 2009, amidst the series between India and Australia, Dhoni showcased his batting prowess with impressive performances, scoring 124 runs off 107 balls in the second ODI and 71 runs off 95 balls in the third ODI. On September 30, 2009, Dhoni achieved another milestone by claiming his first wicket in international cricket against West Indies during the Champions Trophy. Furthermore, his outstanding batting skills propelled him to the top of the ICC ODI Batsman ranking in the same year.
In 2011, under Dhoni’s captaincy, India triumphed over Australia in the quarter-finals and Pakistan in the finals, securing a spot in the Cricket World Cup finals. In the championship match against Sri Lanka, Dhoni played a pivotal role in India’s victory by successfully chasing down a target of 275 runs alongside Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh. Dhoni’s memorable innings, culminating with a historic six, led India to victory with a score of 91*. For his exceptional performance in the final match, Dhoni was rightfully awarded the Man of the Match title in the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
In 2012, following the World Cup victory, Pakistan embarked on a bilateral series to India for the first time in five years. Unfortunately, India ended up losing the series with a score of 1-2.
In 2013, India clinched the ICC Champions Trophy, marking Dhoni as the sole captain in cricket history to secure all ICC trophies. Additionally, he became the second Indian batsman, following Sachin Tendulkar, to amass over 1,000 ODI runs against Australia that year.
Throughout 2013-14, India faced defeats in series against South Africa and New Zealand. However, they managed victories in the ODI series against England (3-1) and West Indies (2-1) in 2014, both home and away.
In the 2015 Cricket World Cup, Dhoni achieved a milestone by leading India to victory in all group stage matches, a first for an Indian captain in such a tournament. Despite a strong start, India ultimately fell short, losing to eventual champions Australia in the title clash.
In January 2017, Dhoni relinquished his role as the captain across all limited-over formats for the Indian team. Despite this, he continued to excel, garnering praise for his performances during the ODI home series against England. His standout performances earned him recognition as the wicketkeeper in the ‘Team of the Tournament’ at the 2017 Champions Trophy, as well as a spot in the ODI XI of the year by Cricbuzz.
In August 2017, during an ODI match against Sri Lanka, Dhoni achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first wicketkeeper to complete 100 stumpings.
Following his impressive display in the ODIs against Sri Lanka, Dhoni replaced Dinesh Karthik as the Test wicketkeeper for the Indian team. Despite a rain-marred debut match, Dhoni managed to contribute with the bat, scoring 30 runs.
During the January–February 2006 tour of Pakistan, Dhoni showcased his batting prowess by notching up his maiden century off just 93 balls in Faisalabad.
In 2006, during the West Indies tour, Dhoni exhibited his aggressive batting style, scoring 69 runs in the first match. Additionally, he honed his wicket-keeping skills throughout the series, ending with an impressive tally of 13 catches and 4 stumpings.
In 2009, Dhoni’s stellar performances included two centuries against Sri Lanka, leading India to a 2-0 victory. This triumph propelled India to the top spot in test cricket rankings for the first time in history.
During the 2014-15 season, Dhoni participated in his final test series against Australia, where he captained the team in the second and third test matches. Following the conclusion of the third test in Melbourne, Dhoni announced his retirement from the Test format. In his farewell match, he showcased his brilliance by effecting nine dismissals, breaking Kumar Sangakkara’s record for stumpings with a total of 134 across all formats.
In 2006, Dhoni marked his presence in India’s inaugural Twenty20 international match against South Africa. Although he was dismissed for a duck in his debut, he showcased his wicketkeeping prowess by effecting two dismissals.
On February 12, 2012, Dhoni played a crucial innings, scoring 44 runs, leading India to their first-ever victory over Australia. This victory was a significant milestone for the team.
In 2014, Dhoni’s remarkable performances earned him recognition from the ICC, as he was named the captain and wicketkeeper of the ‘Team of the Tournament’ for the T20 World Cup.
In 2007, Dhoni led India in their maiden World T20 match. His captaincy journey commenced against Scotland, although the match was abandoned due to weather conditions. Subsequently, in September 2007, he steered India to a historic victory over Pakistan in the tournament finals.
During the 2019 Cricket World Cup, Dhoni earned his place in the Indian team. He showcased strong performances against South Africa, Australia, and West Indies. However, he faced scrutiny for his strike rate in matches against Afghanistan and England.
In the semi-finals against New Zealand, Dhoni contributed with a crucial half-century in the second innings. Unfortunately, he was run out at a pivotal moment, resulting in India’s elimination from the World Cup.
During the inaugural season of the IPL (Indian Premier League), Dhoni was signed by the Chennai Super Kings for a record-breaking amount of US$1.5 million, making him the most expensive player in the initial auctions. As captain, he led the team to victory in the IPL titles of 2010, 2011, and 2018. Additionally, the Chennai Super Kings clinched the Champions League T20 titles in 2010 and 2014 under his leadership.
In 2016, due to a suspension, Chennai Super Kings was sidelined for two seasons, leading Dhoni to join Rising Pune Supergiant as their captain. However, despite his leadership, the team finished in 7th place. The following year, in 2017, his team made it to the finals but was defeated by the Mumbai Indians in the title match.
In 2018, following the lifting of the ban on Chennai Super Kings, the team made a triumphant return to the IPL. Dhoni resumed his role as captain, leading CSK to their third IPL title victory. The following year, in 2019, he continued to captain the team, guiding them to another strong season. However, despite their efforts, Mumbai Indians clinched the title that year.