MS Dhoni Biography: In the annals of Indian cricket, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, also known as MSD, has been instrumental. Not just as “Captain Cool,” but as a finisher, a mentor, and a wicketkeeper as well. MS Dhoni’s composure extends a little beyond his batting approach. Thankfully, it doesn’t, because otherwise, we wouldn’t have seen so many of his six-figure finishes.
MS Dhoni has had a remarkable career, going from a highly regarded young player with long hair and a confident swagger to the captain of the Indian team and a man known as a legend. The only thing lacking is a two-part biographical film that shows the events of his life.
MS Dhoni Biography
Pan Singh and Devaki Devi welcomed Mahendra Singh Dhoni, affectionately known as Mahi, into the world on July 7, 1981, in Ranchi, Jharkhand. He has a sibling named Narendra Singh Dhoni and was the third kid after Jayanti Gupta.
Dhoni used to be a huge fan of Adam Gilchrist and looked up to Sachin Tendulkar when he was younger. Dhoni attended the DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir for his education and participated in football and badminton.
To be exact, his favorite sport was football. Only after observing his football goalkeeping prowess did his PE teacher insist that Dhoni give the cricket gloves a try.
By happenstance, he was a natural at the new sport. Years later, MSD would go on to become the standard bearer for wicketkeeping in cricket.
MS Dhoni Biography: Career
Dhoni spent the next three years behind the stumps for the Commando cricket team, which he joined in 1995. He was then selected for the 1997–98 Vinoo Mankad Trophy Under-16 Championship, where he excelled.
Dhoni began playing for the Central Coal Fields Limited (CCL) squad in 1998. Deval Sahay used to give him fifty rupees for each six he scored in Sheesh Mahal tournament cricket matches while he was playing for the CCL. Next, Sahay advocated for Dhoni to be included in the Bihar squad.
MS Dhoni Domestic Career
In the 1999–2000 domestic season, MS Dhoni was chosen to play for Bihar in the Ranji Trophy competition. In his first-ever game, the 18-year-old scored 50 runs, and then in the second inning against Assam, he scored 68. Dhoni scored 283 runs in five games to round out the season. In the 2000–01 season, MSD scored its first-ever century in a first-class match against Bengal.
Dhoni’s career was stagnating, so he desperately joined the Railways Ranji squad and started working as a Traveling Ticket Examiner (TTE) at the railway station in Kharagpur. During the 2002–03 season, Dhoni scored two half-centuries in the Deodhar Trophy and three half-centuries in the Ranji Trophy for Bihar.
He soon gained recognition for both his hard-hitting batting approach and lower-order performance. In the opening game of the Ranji ODI tournament in 2003–04, Dhoni scored 128* against Assam.
Later, Dhoni played in the Deodhar Trophy 2003–04 season for the East Zone. In four games, Dhoni amassed 244 runs, 114 of which came against the Central Zone. He played a major role in the East Zone winning the trophy. MSD defeated Deep Dasgupta, an international cricket player, in the Duleep Trophy finals and went on to score a half-century in the second inning.
In 2003, Dhoni was discovered in Jamshedpur by the BCCI’s small-town talent-spotting program, Talent Resource Development Wing (TRDW). After submitting his report to the National Cricket Academy, he received a call-up for India’s tour of Kenya and Zimbabwe.
MS Dhoni Biography: ODI Career
When MS Dhoni joined the Indian team, there was fierce competition for the wicket-keeping position. During the 2004–05 tour of Bangladesh, he made his debut. On his debut, a nervous Dhoni was run out for a duck. He scored 12 and 7* in the series’ first two games.
During Pakistan’s tour of India, Dhoni was given another opportunity despite a poor start to his international career. Dhoni demonstrated why he was chosen as India’s wicketkeeper above players like Rahul Dravid, Dinesh Karthik, and Parthiv Patel by scoring 148 in the second game in Visakhapatnam.
Dhoni was asked to go up the order in the third game of the 2005 Sri Lankan bilateral ODI series to increase the score, and he dutifully did so! With 183 runs off 145 balls, Dhoni gave India the victory.
Before the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, Dhoni was still playing well behind the stumps and at the bat. But after losing to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, India was eliminated from the World Cup, and things went wrong. Cricket fans became enraged after Dhoni was out on 0 in both games.
Dhoni returned from the World Cup with a 91* against Bangladesh. He received the vice-captaincy for the series versus South Africa as a reward. During trips against England, Pakistan, Australia, and Sri Lanka, MSD went on to score six half-centuries.
During the seven-match ODI series against Australia, Dhoni was named the team’s full-time captain. This marked the start of a new chapter in the stories of MS Dhoni and India. Dhoni continued to use the bat to either close games for the Indian middle-order or to chip in important runs.
MS Dhoni Biography: MSD In World Cups
Two of MS Dhoni’s four World Cup appearances have been as captain. India won the World Cup in 2011 and advanced to the semifinals in 2015 while he was captain.
2007 ICC Cricket World Cup and Dhoni
MSD was chosen for the World Cup in the Caribbean because of his performances both behind the stumps and in the middle order. India’s effort was unsatisfactory as they were defeated by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in two of the three group matches. Dhoni was out of the game in both games, which was a terrible innings for him. Dhoni was among the team members who received harsh criticism for their performances. Following the defeat by Bangladesh, almost two hundred supporters stormed Dhoni’s newly constructed Ranchi home.
2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and Dhoni
Dhoni captained all three Test, T20I, and ODI matches in the 2011 World Cup. When India faced Sri Lanka in the finals, Dhoni had a significant impact with the bat. As the Wankhede chased 275, Dhoni moved up the order in response to early wicket losses for Virat Kohli, Sachin, and Sehwag.
After that, Dhoni and Gambir established a reliable alliance that steadies the Indian innings. With 79 deliveries, Dhoni scored 91*. He won Man of the Match and scored Numan Kulaeskara’s game-winning six, a shot that will live in infamy.
Dhoni demonstrated why he was one of India’s greatest captains by making the vital choice to move up the order to counter Muralitharan’s spin danger and right-left hand combination.
2015 ICC Cricket World Cup and Dhoni
The Men in Blue easily defeated Bangladesh in the quarterfinals of the 2015 World Cup, which was played in Australia and New Zealand, to advance to the semi-finals. This was made possible by Dhoni’s leadership. They did, however, fall to the hosts, Australia, at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the semi-finals.
Throughout the 2015 World Cup, India have won 11 straight games and 7 straight matches. Following their victory over Bangladesh, MSD became the first Indian captain to hold the record and the first skipper from outside Australia to win 100 ODI matches.
With an average of 59.25, he scored 237 runs in 6 games. India’s progress to the semi-finals was aided by his 45* and 85* scores against the West Indies and Zimbabwe. In the semifinal match against Australia, he hit 65 runs, but he was unable to stop the Australians from crushing India en route to victory.
2019 ICC Cricket World Cup and Dhoni
At the age of 38, MSD participated in his final World Cup. He was India’s wicketkeeper going into the tournament this time. Despite his flattering remarks about South Africa, Australia, and the West Indies, MSD’s strike rate and apparent “lack of intent” were his main criticisms.
After the top-order collapsed, Dhoni struck a solid half-century against New Zealand in the semifinals and formed a promising alliance with Ravinder Jadeja. India appeared to be headed for the championship match. However, Dhoni was run out at a critical juncture, designing a billion hopes.
MS Dhoni Biography: Test Career
In the 2005 test series, MSD took Dinesh Karthik’s spot as wicketkeeper. In a match that was abandoned due to weather, Dhoni scored 30 in his test debut. In the second test matchup with Sri Lanka, he scored his first half-century.
MS Dhoni earned his first century during the India tour of Pakistan in early 2006, and he and Irfan Pathan prevented India from losing a follow-on. He could not, however, deliver in the third game as India lost the test and the series. His drab performances carried over into the opening two games of England’s tour of India.
Despite returning from the last test with a 64, he was unable to prevent the English from leveling the series. Since then, Dhoni has remained a member of the test team until deciding in the 2014–15 season that it was time to concentrate on the game’s abbreviated version.
Dhoni has had several test records. In Chennai, he amassed the third-highest test score by an Indian skipper with the bat, 244 against Australia. In addition, he scored the most points of any Indian wicketkeeper. It was also the highest number of runs an innings had been scored by a wicketkeeper-captain. He scored his fourth century overall and the fastest of any Indian wicketkeeper against Pakistan.
MSD T20 Career
From the beginning, MSD has been a member of the Indian T20 team. In 2006, he was one of the eleven players who participated in India’s inaugural Twenty20 international match against South Africa. India was lucky to win the match despite his duck. On the other hand, Dhoni hit 45 to help India defeat the proteas in the 2007 ICC T20 Championships.
Dhoni has since led the Indian squad to multiple T20 international victories including the first-ever T20 championships. In addition to serving as captain and wicketkeeper, he was a crucial finisher for India in Twenty20 cricket matches.
T20 World Cups and Dhoni
Before the 2007 T20 World Cup, MS Dhoni was selected as the team’s captain. In the end, India raised the trophy. In addition to being the captain, MSD was a crucial finishing batsman in the middle order. India defeated Australia by 15 runs in the semi-finals thanks to his innings, and they advanced to the finals.
Even yet, he was unable to force India to meet its objectives. India defeated Pakistan in the final thanks to MSD’s leadership and composure in the dying over. In addition, Dhoni was crucial to India’s journey to the 2014 T20 World Championship final. He was announced as part of the tournament team.
MS Dhoni Biography: IPL Career
Following his victory in the 2007 World T20, MS Dhoni was signed by Chennai Super Kings to play in the Indian Premier League. In the first season, he was the most costly player. The CSK team went on to win the 2010 and 2011 IPL championships under his direction.
The franchise and the Rajasthan Royals were both suspended from the IPL in 2015. He was later acquired by the Rising Pune Supergiants for $1.9 million. Before joining the CSK once more, he captained the team for two seasons. After his return, Dhoni scored 455 runs in the tournament finals and guided CSK to the 2018 IPL championship. Dhoni was signed by CSK for INR 12 crores in 2023.
He scored the most runs for Chennai during their journey to the finals the following year, totaling 416. Against RR and RCB, Dhoni hit three half-centuries: 75*, 58, and 84*.
MS Dhoni Records
MSD in Tests
- MSD led India to number 1 in the test ranking for the first time in 2009.
- Dhoni remains the most successful Indian Test captain with 27 Test wins.
- He is the first Indian wicket-keeper to score 4,000 test runs.
- Dhoni’s 224 against Australia is the third-highest score by an Indian captain, the highest Test score by an Indian wicket-keeper, and the highest score by a wicket-keeper–captain.
- Dhoni’s century against Pakistan (148) is the fastest century scored by an Indian wicket-keeper and fourth overall.
- With 294 dismissals in his career, Dhoni tops the all-time dismissals list by Indian wicket-keepers.
- Dhoni has the most stumpings (38) to his name by any wicket-keeper in tests.
- He holds the record for most scalps in an innings (6) and a match (9) by an Indian wicket-keeper.
- Dhoni is the third captain overall to win 100 games.
MSD in ODI and T20s
- Only two wicketkeepers, including MS Dhoni, have reached the 10,000 ODI run milestone. Dhoni is the fourth Indian to do it.
- The first player with a career average of above 50 to reach 10,000 runs in one-day international cricket.
- As the number six batsman in ODIs, Dhoni has amassed the greatest career runs.
- The only player in ODI cricket history to make a century while batting at number seven or below
- ODIs with the most not-outs (82).
- In ODIs, the first Indian and fifth person overall to hit 200 sixes
- Against Sri Lanka in 2005, Dhoni scored the highest score ever for a wicketkeeper with 183*.
- When MSD batted at number seven against Pakistan in Chennai in 2012, he scored the highest score of any skipper.
- India’s greatest eight-wicket ODI partnership is with Kumar Bhuvneshwar
- When it comes to captaining and wicket-keeping in ODI history, MSD holds the record with 200 matches played.
- Most dismissals by an Indian wicket-keeper in a career (432) and an innings (6).
- In his ODI career, Dhoni has managed to record the most stumpings (120) of any wicketkeeper.
- First wicketkeeper in India to acquire the distinction of taking 300 ODI catches and; the fourth wicketkeeper globally to do so
- As captain, Dhoni has the most victories in T20Is.
- Additionally, he has the most T20I matchplay as captain.
- In T20 international history, MSD has participated in the most games as a captain and a wicketkeeper.
- Most T20I innings without a duck in a row (84)
- Before hitting fifty, Dhoni scored the most runs (1,153) and played in the most T20I innings (76).
- In T20Is, the most wicket-keeper dismissals (87)
- In T20Is, he has the most catches as the wicketkeeper (54).
- In T20Is, Dhoni has the most stumpings (33) of any wicketkeeper.
- In a T20I innings, the most catches made by the keeper
MS Dhoni Centuries
With ten ODIs and six Tests, MS Dhoni has amassed 16 centuries in his international cricket career. Against Pakistan in 2005, he scored his first century. With his 148, he contributed to India’s 58-run triumph. Then, at Jaipur, Dhoni struck for 183* off 145 balls, leading India to defeat Sri Lanka’s 298 in 46 overs.
MSD helped the Men in Blue draw the match during India’s visit to Pakistan by scoring 148 in the opening innings of the second test at Faislabad. Against Africa XI, Dhoni scored his second century for Asia XI. Asia triumphed by 13 runs because of Mahi’s 139 in 97 balls in a star-studded encounter.
His next century came in the 2008 Asia Cup against Hong Kong, a team of underdogs. With an unbroken score of 109, he helped India amass a huge 374. Dhoni maintains his strong form after the Asia Cup into Australia’s October 2009 trip to India. Dhoni led India to a 354-run score with 124 runs in 107 balls.
In the third test of the Sri Lankan tour, he followed it up with another century against Sri Lanka. In that same encounter, he scored 100* while Sehwag scored 293. India prevailed by 24 runs in an innings. 2009 saw Dhoni finish with four hundred. He scored his final century in a losing effort versus Sri Lanka.
2010 saw Dhoni maintain his excellent form as well. He scored 101* in the match against Bangladesh, helping India to chase down 296 in 47.3 overs. Dhoni defeated South Africa to score his subsequent century. Following Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, and Sehwag, he became the fourth Indian player to register a century in the same innings.
MSD hit 144 runs in the second test against the West Indies, helping India reach 631 runs and win the match by an innings and fifteen runs. His most recent century came in the first ODI in Chennai against Pakistan, where he made 113 runs. Dhoni, incidentally, recorded his first and only century in the match against Pakistan.
MS Dhoni Double Century
MSD’s only double century was during the first test match in Chennai against Australia. As India recorded 572 runs on the scoreboard, he scored 224 runs. The Indian team won by eight wickets. Mahi smashed three records throughout the contest.
He achieved three firsts: the greatest Test score by an Indian wicket-keeper, the highest score by a wicket-keeper-captain, and the third-highest score by an Indian captain.
MS Dhoni Wife
MS Dhoni and Sakshi Singh Rawat are wed. She was born in the Assamese city of Guwahati on November 19, 1988, to RK and Sheila Singh. She finished her education at Jawahar Vidya Mandir in Ranchi, Jharkhand, after attending Welham Girls’ School in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
After graduating from the Institute of Hotel Management in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Sakshi worked as an intern at the Taj Bengal in Kolkata. They were introduced by Yudhaji Dutta, manager of MSD. Beginning their courtship in March 2008, the pair wed on July 4, 2010. On February 6, 2015, the couple were blessed with a beautiful daughter, Ziva.
His daughter, who has already gained media attention, is a great stress reliever for him. “She has her personality even if she is only six years old.
MS Dhoni Daughter- Ziva Dhoni
Ziva Dhoni, who went viral on the internet at an early age, was born in Ranchi on February 6, 2015. She was born in Australia during the time that MS Dhoni’s Indian side was getting ready to defend their World Cup championship. The 39-year-old was unable to spend time with her as a result.
MS Dhoni Biography: Net worth
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s estimated net worth is ₹1030 crore. His endorsement deals with companies including Indian Terrain, Colgate, RedBus, Panerai, LivFast, GoDaddy, Orient Fans, Snickers India, NetMeds, and Dream 11 bring in millions of dollars for him.
Dhoni is an entrepreneur who owns shares in several businesses. He has ownership interests in the Ranchi Rays, Mahi Racing Team India, and the football team Chennaiyin FC.
In addition, he works with India Cements as Vice President (Marketing). His 15 crore rupee deal is with the Chennai Super Kings.
Dhoni is the $27 million owner of a home in Dehradun. In Jharkhand, he runs a hotel called Hotel Mahi Residency. His other business endeavor is a nationwide chain of fitness centers.
The renowned Italian sports watch Panerai revealed earlier in 2018 that Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a legend of Indian cricket, would be serving as their brand ambassador for the country.
In addition, Mahendra Singh Dhoni loves sports vehicles and motorcycles. Porsche 911, Hummer H2, Audi Q7, Ferrari 599 GTO, GMC Sierra, Harley-Davidson FatBoy, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14, Ducati 1098, Yamaha RD350, Yamaha Thundercat, Kawasaki Ninja H2, and Rajdoot are among the vehicles he owns. Dhoni also owns the Confederate Hellcat X132.
MSD Awards and Achievements
- ICC ODI Player of the Year – 2008, 2009
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna – 2007
- Padma Shri – 2009
- Padma Bhushan – 2018
- ICC World Test XI Captain – 2009, 2010, 2013
- ICC World ODI XI Captain – 2009
- De Montfort University gave an honorary doctorate to MSD.
- Indian Army conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel to MS Dhoni on November 1, 2011
- MSD was included in Time Magazine’s “Most Influential People in the World” 2011 list in its annual Time 100 list.
- Dhoni was included in the Forbes India Celebrity 100 for three years in a row—2017, 2018, and 2019.
MSD Unknown Facts
- As a kid, MSD used to play football and badminton.
- He was the most expensive player in the first IPL Auction
- Dhoni is the only player to win the ICC Player of the Year award twice.
- MSD has a collection of 100+ bikes.
- The Indian Territorial Army conferred the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on MS in November 2011.
- MS Dhoni’s life story has been portrayed on the big screen in the movie, MS Dhoni: The Untold Story.
