On July 7, 2024, the legendary “captain cool,” MS Dhoni, one of India’s best cricket players ever, turned 43. MS Dhoni, the only skipper in history to win all three ICC white-ball trophies, celebrated his 43rd birthday with style and grace. His wife posted a video of the occasion on social media. Following Sakshi’s amazing touch of Dhoni’s feet and subsequent folding of his hands in front of him, the funny video went viral on social media. Concerned for his vegetarian pals, Dhoni inquired about the cake’s egglessness in the video.
Watch the video here
Dhoni needs no introduction in the world of cricket and is recognized for his calm and brilliant captaincy qualities on the field in his international and IPL days. On August 15, 2020, Dhoni announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, bringing down the curtains on an extraordinary career.
India won first place in every format under Dhoni’s direction. India topped the Test rankings under his leadership for a period of eighteen months, beginning in December 2009. Following his captaincy debut in 2007, the team went on to win the T20 world title and the 50-over World Cup in 2011.
After working as a ticket collector at a railway station, Dhoni turned into India’s most prolific trophy collector, captaining the team to victories in the ICC T20 World Cup 2007, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, and ICC Champions Trophy 2013. Although he made his international debut in 2004, he developed into a brilliant finisher who would lead his team to victories with his calculated aggression and brilliant tactics. Dhoni, also known as Chennai Super Kings’ “Thala” (leader), played 98 T20Is for India, scoring 1,617 runs at an average of 37.60, at a strike rate of 126.13. He has two half-centuries in the format.
Dhoni is the 14th-highest scorer for India in Tests, having played 90 matches and scoring 4,876 runs at an average of 38.09. He has six centuries and 33 half-centuries, with a best score of 224. As a captain, he led India to 27 wins, 18 losses, and 15 draws, with a win percentage of 45.00, making him one of India’s most successful skippers across all eras.
The people’s choice ‘Mahi’ led India in 72 T20Is, winning 41, losing 28, tying one, and failing to deliver results. His winning percentage is 56.94.
Aside from managing India to ICC titles, he has also led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to franchise success in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Champions League T20. He has led CSK to five IPL wins, including 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023. Dhoni has led CSK to two CLT20 wins, in 2010 and 2014.
Dhoni has appeared in 264 IPL matches, the most of them for CSK, with a brief stint with Rising Pune Supergiant from 2016 to 2017. In these games, he scored 5,243 runs at an average of 39.13. He has also achieved 24 half-centuries in the competition. He’s also got 152 catches and 42 stumpings.
With his incredible statistics as a middle-order batsman and his success as a skipper, it is unlikely that India and international cricket in general will see another ‘captain cool’ moment.
