Mahendra Singh Dhoni, commonly known as MS Dhoni, is a former Indian cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest captains and wicket-keeper batsmen in the history of cricket. Born on 7 July 1981, Dhoni's career is marked by numerous milestones and achievements that have made him a legend in the sport.
Main Milestones
Birth
7 July 1981
Mahendra Singh Dhoni was born in Ranchi, Bihar (now in Jharkhand), India, to Pan Singh and Devaki Devi in a Hindu Rajput family.
Early Cricket Career
1995-1998
Dhoni played as a wicket-keeper for the Commando cricket club and later for the Central Coal Fields Limited (CCL) team, where he batted higher up the order and helped the team qualify to the higher division.
Ranji Trophy Debut
1999-2000
Dhoni made his Ranji Trophy debut for Bihar against Assam, scoring 68 runs in the second innings. He finished the season with 283 runs in 5 matches.
International Debut
23 December 2004
Dhoni made his international debut in an ODI against Bangladesh at Chittagong, marking the beginning of his illustrious career.
Captaincy
2007
Dhoni took over the reins of ODI captaincy from Rahul Dravid and later became the captain of the Indian team in all formats, leading India to numerous victories including the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
World Cup Victory
2011
Dhoni played a memorable match-winning unbeaten knock of 91 off 79 balls against Sri Lanka in the World Cup final, helping India lift the trophy after 28 years.
ICC Champions Trophy
2013
Dhoni led India to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy, beating England by five runs in the final, making him the first captain to win all three ICC trophies.
End of Captaincy
2017
Dhoni stopped serving as India's captain, having led his country in 331 international matches, the most for a captain in the sport's history.
Retirement from International Cricket
2019
Dhoni retired from international cricket, ending a career that spanned over 15 years and included numerous accolades and achievements.
IPL Success
2021
Dhoni led the Chennai Super Kings to their fourth IPL title, further cementing his legacy as one of the greatest captains in cricket history.
