MS Dhoni: Profile, Cricket Career, Records, Interesting Facts, Awards, Controversy and More

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, also known as MS Dhoni, is a former Indian cricketer and captain of the Indian national cricket team. He was born on July 7, 1981, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.

Dhoni made his debut for the Indian cricket team in December 2004 in a One Day International (ODI) match against Bangladesh. He quickly established himself as a talented wicket-keeper and aggressive middle-order batsman.

In 2007, Dhoni was appointed captain of the Indian cricket team for the inaugural ICC World Twenty20, which India won under his leadership. He went on to lead India to victory in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, which was held in India, and also led the team to victory in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.

Dhoni retired from Test cricket in 2014 but continued to play in limited-overs formats until 2020. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricket captains of all time and has been awarded numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, two of India’s highest civilian honours.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni Family

Mahendra Singh Dhoni was born on July 7, 1981, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, India. He comes from a middle-class family and is the youngest of three siblings. Here is some information about his family:

1. Parents: Dhoni’s father’s name is Pan Singh and his mother’s name is Devaki Devi. His father worked for the junior management position in MECON, while his mother was a homemaker.
2. Siblings: Dhoni has two elder siblings, a brother named Narendra Singh Dhoni and a sister named Jayanti Gupta.
3. Wife and Children: Dhoni is married to Sakshi Singh Rawat since 2010, and the couple has a daughter named Ziva.
4. Extended Family: Dhoni also has several relatives who are involved in sports. His paternal uncle, Keshav Ranjan Banerjee, was a former first-class cricketer and his brother, Narendra Singh Dhoni, played for the Bihar cricket team.

Overall, Dhoni comes from a humble family and has strong ties to his hometown of Ranchi. Despite his incredible success in cricket, he remains grounded and family-oriented.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni Education

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s education background is limited as he left his studies to pursue a career in cricket. Dhoni completed his schooling from DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir, Shyamali in Ranchi, Jharkhand. After completing his 10th standard, he enrolled in Jawahar Vidya Mandir, a higher secondary school affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in Ranchi.

However, he dropped out of school in his 12th standard to focus on his cricket career. Despite not completing his formal education, Dhoni’s cricketing success has made him a role model and inspiration for millions of young people in India.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni Cricket Career

MS Dhoni is regarded as one of the most successful captains in the history of Indian cricket. He had a long and illustrious career, which spanned over 15 years. Here is a brief overview of his career:

MS Dhoni International Career

Dhoni made his debut for the Indian cricket team in December 2004 in a One Day International (ODI) match against Bangladesh. He was selected as a wicketkeeper-batsman and scored 0 runs in his debut match.

1. He played his first Test match against Sri Lanka in December 2005 and scored 30 runs in his debut innings.
2. Dhoni’s breakthrough performance came in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, where he led India to victory and was named the Player of the Tournament.
3. He was appointed captain of the Indian cricket team in all formats in 2007 and went on to lead the team to several significant victories.
4. Dhoni led India to victory in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, which was held in India. He scored an unbeaten 91 runs in the final and was named the Player of the Match.
5. He retired from Test cricket in December 2014 after playing 90 Test matches and scoring 4876 runs at an average of 38.09. He also took 256 catches and made 38 stumpings as a wicketkeeper.
6. Dhoni continued to play in limited-overs formats and retired from all forms of international cricket in August 2020.

MS Dhoni IPL Career

1. Dhoni has also had a successful career in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he has played for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise since the tournament’s inception in 2008.
2. He has led the CSK team to three IPL titles in 2010, 2011, and 2018.
3. Dhoni has scored 4632 runs in 204 IPL matches at an average of 40.99 and a strike rate of 136.75. He has also taken 152 catches and made 38 stumpings as a wicketkeeper.

Overall, Dhoni is regarded as one of the greatest cricketers and captains in the history of Indian cricket. His contributions to Indian cricket are widely recognized and celebrated by cricket fans around the world.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni Net Worth

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of the most successful cricketers in the world and has earned a substantial net worth over his career. As of 2021, it is estimated that his net worth is around $111 million.

Dhoni’s primary source of income has been his earnings from cricket. He has played for the Indian national team for over a decade and has also been a part of various domestic T20 leagues such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Dhoni has been one of the highest-paid cricketers in the world throughout his career and has earned millions of dollars in salary and endorsements.

In addition to his earnings from cricket, Dhoni has also invested in various business ventures. He has endorsed several brands, including Reebok, Pepsi, and Orient, and has also launched his own clothing line, SEVEN. Dhoni has also invested in several startups and is the co-owner of the Chennaiyin FC team in the Indian Super League.

Dhoni is known for his shrewd financial acumen and has made several smart investments over the years. He is also involved in several philanthropic initiatives and has donated a significant amount of money to various charitable causes. Overall, Dhoni’s net worth is a reflection of his success both on and off the cricket field.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni Interesting Facts

1. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, also known as MS Dhoni, was born on July 7, 1981, in Ranchi, Bihar (now Jharkhand), India.
2. Dhoni is a right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper. He is widely considered one of the best finishers in limited-overs cricket.
3. He made his international debut for India in December 2004 in an ODI against Bangladesh. He scored 0 runs in his debut innings.
4. Dhoni is the only captain in the world to have won all three ICC limited-overs trophies – the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2010 and 2016 Asia Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy.
5. Dhoni holds several records in international cricket, including the most dismissals by an Indian wicket-keeper in all three formats of the game and the most runs as an Indian captain.
6. He has been awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India’s highest sports award, in 2007 and the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, in 2009.
7. Dhoni is also known for his love for motorcycles and has a vast collection of bikes. He has even launched his own brand of motorcycles called the ‘MSD Two Wheelers.’
8. He retired from international cricket on August 15, 2020, after having played 90 Tests, 350 ODIs, and 98 T20Is.
9. Dhoni is married to Sakshi Singh Rawat, and the couple has a daughter named Ziva.
10. Dhoni is known for his calm and composed demeanor on the field and is often referred to as “Captain Cool” by his fans and teammates.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni Records

Mahendra Singh Dhoni holds several records in international cricket. Some of his major records are:

1. Most T20I dismissals as a wicket-keeper: Dhoni has 91 dismissals (57 catches and 34 stumpings) in T20Is, which is the most by any wicket-keeper in this format.
2. Most international matches as captain: Dhoni has captained India in 332 international matches (200 ODIs, 60 Tests, and 72 T20Is), which is the most by any captain in the world.
3. Most dismissals as a wicket-keeper in T20Is: Dhoni has 91 dismissals (57 catches and 34 stumpings) in T20Is, which is the most by any wicket-keeper in this format.
4. Most wins as captain in T20Is: Dhoni has led India to 41 wins in T20Is, which is the most by any captain in this format.
5. Most successful Indian captain in Tests: Dhoni has led India to 27 Test wins, which is the most by any Indian captain.
6. Most stumpings in international cricket: Dhoni has effected 256 stumpings in international cricket (38 in Tests, 123 in ODIs, and 95 in T20Is), which is the most by any wicket-keeper in the world.
7. Most catches by an Indian wicket-keeper in ODIs: Dhoni has taken 256 catches in ODIs, which is the most by any Indian wicket-keeper.
8. Most sixes by an Indian player in international cricket: Dhoni has hit 359 sixes in international cricket, which is the most by any Indian player.
9. Highest score by a wicket-keeper batsman in ODIs: Dhoni scored 183* against Sri Lanka in 2005, which is the highest score by a wicket-keeper batsman in ODIs.
10. Fastest stumping by an Indian wicket-keeper in Tests: Dhoni stumped AB de Villiers off Harbhajan Singh’s bowling in 0.09 seconds during the Kolkata Test in 2010, which is the fastest stumping by an Indian wicket-keeper in Tests.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni Stats

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s career statistics in international cricket are:

1. Test matches: Dhoni played 90 Tests, scoring 4,876 runs at an average of 38.09, including 6 centuries and 33 half-centuries. He also took 256 catches and effected 38 stumpings as a wicket-keeper.
2. One-Day Internationals (ODIs): Dhoni played 350 ODIs, scoring 10,773 runs at an average of 50.57, including 10 centuries and 73 half-centuries. He also took 256 catches and effected 38 stumpings as a wicket-keeper.
3. Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is): Dhoni played 98 T20Is, scoring 1,617 runs at a strike rate of 126.13, including 2 half-centuries. He also took 57 catches and effected 34 stumpings as a wicket-keeper.
4. First-class matches: Dhoni played 131 first-class matches, scoring 7,038 runs at an average of 36.84, including 9 centuries and 47 half-centuries. He also took 256 catches and effected 38 stumpings as a wicket-keeper.
5. List A matches: Dhoni played 432 List A matches, scoring 13,704 runs at an average of 45.90, including 18 centuries and 93 half-centuries. He also took 444 catches and effected 120 stumpings as a wicket-keeper.
6. T20 matches: Dhoni played 317 T20 matches, scoring 7,870 runs at a strike rate of 136.75, including 2 centuries and 45 half-centuries. He also took 168 catches and effected 89 stumpings as a wicket-keeper.

Dhoni’s contribution to Indian cricket has been immense, and he is regarded as one of the greatest Indian cricketers of all time.

How many matches played by MS Dhoni?

Mahendra Singh Dhoni played a total of 538 matches across all formats in his international career. Here’s a breakdown of his matches in each format:

1. Test matches: Dhoni played 90 Tests for India between 2005 and 2014.
2. One-Day Internationals (ODIs): Dhoni played 350 ODIs for India between 2004 and 2019.
3. Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is): Dhoni played 98 T20Is for India between 2006 and 2019.

Dhoni also played domestic cricket for his state team Jharkhand and various franchise teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other T20 leagues around the world. Here are his matches played in these competitions:

1. First-class matches: Dhoni played 131 first-class matches, mostly for Jharkhand, between 1999 and 2018.
2. List A matches: Dhoni played 432 List A matches for various teams between 1999 and 2019.
3. T20 matches: Dhoni played 317 T20 matches for various teams between 2006 and 2020.

Overall, Dhoni played a total of 985 professional matches across all formats in his career.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni Controversies

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been a highly respected and admired cricketer throughout his career, and he has largely stayed away from controversies. However, there have been a few incidents that have generated controversy and discussion among fans and media. Here are some of the major controversies involving Dhoni:

1. Captaincy controversies: There have been instances when Dhoni’s captaincy decisions have come under scrutiny, especially in Test cricket. He has been criticized for his defensive tactics and team selection, especially in overseas tours.
2. Conflict of interest: In 2019, Dhoni’s appointment as the brand ambassador of a real estate company that was also the title sponsor of the Indian Premier League (IPL) raised questions of conflict of interest. The issue was referred to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ethics officer, who eventually cleared Dhoni of any wrongdoing.
3. Criticism over retirement: Dhoni’s decision to retire from international cricket in 2020, without any prior announcement, was criticized by some fans and media. Some felt that he should have retired earlier, while others thought he still had a lot to offer to Indian cricket.

Despite these controversies, Dhoni has always conducted himself with dignity and grace, and remains one of the most popular and respected cricketers in the world.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni Awards List

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has won several awards and accolades throughout his illustrious career. Here’s a list of some of his major awards and achievements:

1. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna: India’s highest sporting honor was awarded to Dhoni in 2007.
2. Padma Shri: India’s fourth highest civilian award was bestowed upon Dhoni in 2009.
3. ICC ODI Player of the Year: Dhoni won the prestigious award in 2008 and 2009.
4. ICC Spirit of Cricket Award: Dhoni was given the award in 2011 for his exemplary conduct on the field.
5. People’s Choice Awards India: Dhoni has won several awards at the People’s Choice Awards India, including Favorite Sports Personality in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
6. Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World: Dhoni was named the Leading Cricketer in the World for the year 2011.
7. Honorary doctorate: Dhoni was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in 2017 by De Montfort University, Leicester.
8. IPL titles: Dhoni has led the Chennai Super Kings to victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on three occasions, in 2010, 2011, and 2018.
9. World Cup wins: Dhoni has led India to victory in two major ICC events – the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.

These awards and achievements are a testament to Dhoni’s exceptional talent, leadership, and contribution to Indian cricket.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Retirement

Mahendra Singh Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, 2020, via an Instagram post. He wrote, “Thanks a lot for your love and support throughout. From 1929 hrs consider me as retired.”

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A post shared by M S Dhoni (@mahi7781)

Dhoni had not played any international cricket since India’s semi-final exit in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, and there was much speculation about his future in the sport. He had, however, continued to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), leading them to the final in the 2019 season.

Dhoni’s retirement from international cricket brought an end to a glittering career that spanned 16 years. He had made his debut for India in 2004, and went on to become one of the most successful captains in the country’s history. He led India to victory in two major ICC events – the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup – and was widely regarded as one of the best finishers in the game.

Dhoni’s retirement was met with an outpouring of tributes and messages from fans, fellow cricketers, and cricketing authorities around the world. His contribution to Indian cricket and his unique style of leadership and cricketing acumen will be remembered for years to come.

Updated On: March 8, 2023 10:18 am