MS Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, commonly known as MS Dhoni, is an Indian cricketer who has been one of the most successful captains in the history of Indian cricket. He is known for his calm and composed demeanor on the field and has led India to several major victories in both ODI and T20 formats. Dhoni is also a wicket-keeper-batsman and has been considered one of the best in the world in both disciplines.

Early Life and Domestic Career

Born on July 7, 1981, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, Dhoni initially played football and badminton before taking up cricket seriously. He made his debut for Bihar in the 1999-2000 Ranji Trophy and scored a century in his fifth match. Dhoni then moved to Jharkhand and played for the state team in the 2003-04 season. He was selected for the India A team in 2003 and soon caught the attention of selectors with his hard-hitting batting and impressive wicket-keeping skills.

International Debut and Early Success

Dhoni made his international debut in December 2004 against Bangladesh in an ODI match. He did not have a great start to his career, scoring just 19 runs in his first three matches. However, he announced himself on the world stage with a scintillating innings of 148 runs off 123 balls against Pakistan in April 2005. This innings helped India chase down a target of 299 runs and Dhoni was awarded the Man of the Match award.

Dhoni soon established himself as one of the most destructive batsmen in the world, with his ability to hit the ball out of the park at will. He also became the first Indian wicket-keeper to score a century in ODI cricket when he scored 183 runs off 145 balls against Sri Lanka in 2005. Dhoni's quick reflexes and agility behind the stumps also made him a valuable asset to the Indian team.

Captaincy and Success in Limited Overs Cricket

Dhoni was appointed the captain of the Indian team in 2007, taking over from Rahul Dravid. Under his captaincy, India won the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa, beating arch-rivals Pakistan in the final. Dhoni's leadership skills were praised by the cricketing fraternity and he soon became one of the most respected captains in the world.

India's success under Dhoni continued in the limited-overs format, with the team winning the 2010 and 2016 Asia Cups, the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. Dhoni's calm and composed demeanor on the field, combined with his ability to read the game, proved to be a winning combination for India.

Indian Premier League Career

Dhoni has also been a successful player in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the world's most popular T20 league. He was initially bought by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008 for $1.5 million. Dhoni soon became the face of CSK and led the team to victory in the IPL in 2010, 2011, and 2018.

Dhoni's leadership skills and ability to remain calm under pressure have been instrumental in CSK's success in the IPL. He has also been a prolific batsman in the league, with over 4,800 runs in 207 matches at an average of 40.99. Dhoni has also taken 151 catches and affected 38 stumpings in the IPL, making him one of the best wicket-keepers in the league.

Retirement from International Cricket

Dhoni announced his.