An Inspiration To Many - MS Dhoni.

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An Inspiration To Many - MS Dhoni.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni popularly known as MS Dhoni is one of the most well-known cricketers in the world.

He is also the first captain in history to win every game. Three ICC trophies, namely the World Cup (2), Champions Trophy, and the World Twenty20. He was awarded Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, in 2009.

Inspirational Start

There was once a time when the Indian Cricket Team was simply filled with city kids. Due to excellent infrastructure and good scope for the game in cities, many small-town boys would not succeed in defeating them in the Ranji Trophy.

But this man proved it all wrong. Mahendra Singh Dhoni had seen a dream, which many feared to see.

Hailing from the very small town of Ranchi, Dhoni dared to dream and with courage and guts make that dream a reality.

Since a very young age, he idolized 'Sachin Tendulkar' who is known as the 'God of Cricket' and Bollywood actor 'Amitabh Bachchan'.

He started his career as a Ticket Collector in Indian Railways. His hard work and never-give-up spirit finally landed him in International Cricket in 2003.

Early Life and Family Background

Mahendra Singh Dhoni was born on 7th July 1981 in Ranchi, Jharkhand (at that time Ranchi was a part of Bihar), India. Mahi is the nickname of MS Dhoni. He was born in a middle-class Hindu Rajput family.

His father's name is Paan Singh Dhoni and his mother's name is Devaki Devi. Dhoni's father worked in MECON as a junior manager.

Dhoni has two siblings. He has a sister, Jayanti, and a brother, names Narendra Singh Dhoni.

Education and a Football Lover

Mahi did his schooling at DAV Jawahar Vidhya Mandir, Ranchi, Bihar. From childhood, he loved to play sports. He was excellent at football and badminton. He was his school's goalkeeper.

From 1995 to 1998, his football coach sent him to a local cricket club to be a wicketkeeper. This was an accident. He was the Commando cricket club's regular wicketkeeper during that period.

From 1997–98, he made the Vinoo Mankad Trophy Under-16 Championship team. After 10th grade, he took cricket seriously.

From A Goalkeeper to Wicket-keeper

In his school days, he didn't like cricket that much. But he was a huge fan of the former cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar.

From childhood, he was a love to play football. Mahi was the excellent goalkeeper of his school football team. At an early age, Mahi started playing football at Ranchi District Level.

Impressed with his excellent goalkeeping, a cricket club approached Mahi. They offered him to join their cricket team as a wicketkeeper.

MS Dhoni joined the cricket team and started to fall in love with cricket. Dhoni's coach was highly impressed with his Wicket-keeping skills, so he became a regular wicketkeeper at Commando Cricket Club. From there his real journey in cricket started.

Started to Fall in Love with Cricket

Dhoni played for three years in that club. Slowly, his interest had shifted towards batting. After continuous practice, Dhoni has become a good batsman. Not only in this club but in school and other clubs, he started getting popular for his mind-blowing sixes.

In 1997-98, due to his excellent performance, Mahi was also selected for the Under 16 Championship.

At that time, Dhoni gives the railway exam and fortunately, he got selected. In 2001, for the first time, he was posted at Kharagpur Railway as a TTE (TravelingTicket Examiner). Mahi did such a hectic job throughout the day and along with that, he kept playing cricket.

First Meeting with Sachin Tendulkar

During Dilip's Trophy for the first time, Dhoni met with the legend of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar. Dhoni was part of Sachin's opponent team where he was playing as a 12th player.

He was serving drinks to the other players. During that match, Sachin also asked Mahi for water. Dhoni passed water with an innocent smile.

A Turning Point Decision

From 2001 to 2003 Dhoni worked as Ticket Examiner where he was living two lives. Dhoni was doing his job with full sincerity. But due to lack of time, his game was not improving at all.

And finally, he decided to quit his railway job and planned to give his complete focus, time, and dedication to cricket. Dhoni's father I was quite disappointed with his decision.

MS Dhoni's International Debut

After seeing Dhoni's game, the captain Sourav Ganguly and the team selectors decided to select Dhoni for International Indian Cricket Team in 2004 and Dhoni made his international debut. Mahi was one of the players among 15 players in the team.

Journey Began from 0

In 2004 there was a series against Bangladesh Dhoni was also selected among 11 team players but he had not performed well. In his first international match, Dhoni was run out at 0.

Apart from that match, in the rest of the series, his performance was not too good.

An Extraordinary Bounce Back

After some time the captain had shown trust in Mahi and his amazing wicket-keeping skills and selected him for the series against Pakistan. Dinesh Kartik was also a good and strong competitor of Dhoni. While Dinesh was already on the team, questions were also being raised about Dhoni's selection.

In the second match of the Pakistan Series, Sourav Ganguly want to give enough time to Dhoni, so he decided to send him to Number 3. Dhoni came to bat and this time he came up with a different mindset.

Mahi started to shower fours and sixes. And in his fifth international encounter, he scored 148 runs in 123 balls against Pakistan, demonstrating excellent batsmanship. This inning was the maiden International Century of Dhoni.

With his performance, Dhoni was made an irreplaceable place in the team and the heart of every Indian as well. He entered India's Test team a year later, swiftly establishing himself with a century against Pakistan.

Captain for World Cup Tour

Shortly before the World Cup in 2007, India was not doing well in international matches. India has faced many defeats and captain Sourav Ganguly resigned from captaincy.

The team had to go to South Africa for T20 World Cup. When team officials asked Sachin about captaincy, he took the first name of Mahi.

Team Management agreed with Sachin's opinion and selected Dhoni as the captain of the Indian Team for the World Cup Tour 2007. And that's how we got our "CaptainCool".

T20 World Cup 2007

The team was performing excellently. The Indian team was looking very strong and winning matches one after the other. India defeated Australia, South Africa, and Pakistan.

The team was performing great under the leadership of MS and India reached the finals of the world cup.

Although India set a very low score against Pakistan yet the bowlers, fielders, and Dhoni's strategies were able to defend such a low score.

India won by 5 runs and lifted the first T20 World Cup. Dhoni's performance in World Cup made him the ODI captain of team India.

In 2008, India won the Commonwealth Series in Australia by defeating Australia.

MS Dhoni's Ipl Career

Indian Premier League (IPL) also started in 2008. And Dhoni was the highest page cricketer in the IPL auction. Dhoni has started playing for CSK (Chennai Super Kings).

Under Dhoni's leadership, Chennai Super Kings have won the IPL title 3 times. The team of Chennai Super Kings has played the most number of final matches eight times in the history of IPL which is a record in itself.

Dhoni is not MS Dhoni for Chennai Cricket Lovers, he will be the Thala forever.

ICC ODI World Cup 2011

In 2011, at this time India was the host country for ODI World Cup. The confidence of the Indian team was high. And the world cup was going well.

India won matches, by defeating Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands, and West Indies.

India entered into quarter-finals against Australia. India won this match and beating Australia, the top team in the cricket world reached the semi-finals.

On 30 March 2011, India played semi-finals against Pakistan (which was a strong team at that time) in Mohali. India won the semi-finals by 29 runs and reached the Finals of the World Cup.

As the team was winning the matches, all the Indians were beating and everyone was expecting that this year we will win the World Cup in our own home.

India and Srilanka played finals on 2nd April 2011 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

Batting first, Sri Lanka had set a target of 274 runs for India. Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir took charge of India's innings after the first two wickets fell. Dhoni came to bat early and took charge of the team's innings.

Dhoni played an unbeaten inning of 91 runs in 79 balls to give India victory before the entire 50 overs were played. India won the match by 6 wickets after 28 years. And India became the first country to win the ODI World Cup on its land.

As soon as India won the World Cup, the sky was filled with fireworks, crowds came on the streets and every Indian was celebrating the victory. That night will always be unforgettable for every Indian.

Awards and Achievements

MS Dhoni is a legend and a youth icon. The list of his achievements is as long as the list of his struggles and failures. Here are some highlights of his achievements and awards as a captain of the Indian Cricket Team and as an individual are giving below:

MTV Youth Icon of the Year

In 2006, Dhoni became a national icon and won the MTV Youth Icon Award.

ICC T20 World Cup Trophy

In the captaincy of MS Dhoni, Team India lifted the T20 World Cup Trophy on 24th September 2007. This was the first time in the history of cricket, India won T20 World Cup.

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award

MS Dhoni received Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2007-2008. This award is the highest achievement for a sportsperson.

ICC ODI Player of the Year

Dhoni has received awards for the ICC ODI Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009.

Padma Shri

In 2009, Dhoni was honored by Padma Shri. It is the fourth-highest civilian award in India.

ICC Cricket World Cup

2nd April 2011 is the date which is unforgettable for every Indian. MS Dhoni led India, and after 28 years India lift the world cup on our land, Wankhede Stadium, India.

ICC Champions Trophy

Team India won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013, which was led by Captain Mahi.

Padma Bhushan

Dhoni was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2018. He received this honor, the third highest civilian award by President Shri Ram NathKovind.

These are just a few awards and many more records are recorded in the pages of cricket history in the name of MS Dhoni.

A Silent Retirement

Just as Dhoni had made a place in the hearts of the Indian team and Indians peacefully, he also announced his retirement calmly.

During the pandemic, on 15 August 2020, the 74th Independence Day of India, around 7 PM, MS Dhoni announced his retirement officially from international cricket.

A Forever Legend

With his excellent decision-making skills, calm handling of high-pressure matches on the field, fastest wicket-keeping skills, great finisher, great soldier, and responsible citizen, Dhoni served his country.

Dhoni was not just a player, he played like a hope for every Indian. Every Indian believed that as long as Dhoni is at the crease, India can win matches even under conditions.