Mahendra Singh Dhoni mainly known as MS Dhoni is a famous name in the world of Cricket. He is loved and praised by not only the cricket fans of India but also fans all around the world. There are many interesting facts about MS Dhoni‘s life that you may not know. Dhoni has had a remarkable journey to reach the top. He had a simple lifestyle as he was grown up in a small town in India. In this article, you will get to know the top 10 interesting facts about MS Dhoni.
Both on and off the field, Dhoni is known for his cool nature and calm attitude. He is famous for his excellent leadership abilities, and many people think he helped Indian cricket enter a new age of prosperity. India won several major cricket tournaments under his captaincy. It includes the ICC World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy, and Asia Cup. Dhoni is considered one of the most dynamic players in cricket. His leadership, superb batting, and exceptional wicket-keeping skills make him one of the best players. One interesting fact about Dhoni is also that at this age he is as fit as the other young players.
Dhoni has received numerous awards and honors for his outstanding performance and contributions to Indian cricket. He has contributed to the Indian Cricket team at both national and international levels. Some of India’s prestigious awards and athletic medals have been awarded to him. Dhoni has inspired many people with his charity efforts and commitment to duty aside from his performance in the field.
Here are 10 interesting facts about the legendary cricketer MS Dhoni.
List of Top 10 Interesting Facts About MS Dhoni
Are you a fan of Legendary Cricketer MS Dhoni, Former Captain of the Indian National Cricket Team? If yes then you will be excited to know about the top 10 amazing and unknown facts about Mahendra Singh Dhoni. This article will cover some fascinating insights into Dhoni’s life and career that you may not know. So, get ready to discover some exciting facts about one of the most beloved sports icons in India.
1. Early Life and Career
Mahendra Singh Dhoni was born in Ranchi, Jharkhan of India on 7th July 1981. Dhoni’s father worked as a pump operator, and his mother was a homemaker. He attended a nearby school for his studies where he used to play different games including cricket, football, and badminton.
Dhoni began his cricketing career playing for local clubs in Ranchi before being selected for the Bihar U-19 team. He then played for the East Zone U-19 team and made his Ranji Trophy debut in the 1999-2000 season. Dhoni’s breakthrough moment came when he scored an unbeaten 68 off 62 balls in a match against Pakistan in 2005.
In 2004 against Bangladesh, he made his international debut. Since then, he has shown excellent gameplay as one of the most consistent middle-order batsmen and a superb wicketkeeper. Dhoni was appointed as the captain of the Indian cricket team’s captain in 2007 due to his composed attitude and outstanding leadership abilities. After MS Dhoni became the captain of the Indian National Cricket Team, they won different significant tournaments including ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.
2. Captaincy Record
MS Dhoni is considered one of the most successful captains in cricket. He was given the responsibility of the captain of the Indian team of all formats in 2007 and held the position until 2017.
India won a number of important tournaments under Dhoni’s leadership including the 2010 and 2016 Asia Cup, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, and the ICC Champions Trophy 2013.
Dhoni’s captaincy record is outstanding, with him leading India in 199 matches across all formats of the game. Of these matches, India won 110, lost 74, and tied 5, giving him a win percentage of 59.57. In Test cricket, he led India in 60 matches, winning 27, losing 18, and drawing 15.
Dhoni’s success as a captain could be due to his coolness under pressure, excellent team management abilities, and smart judgments. His teammates frequently appreciated his leadership style and his ability to maintain team calm under pressure.
3. Helicopter Shot
Dhoni is known for his unorthodox batting style, and one of his signature shots is the helicopter shot. He uses his strong wrists to whip the ball over the boundary on the leg side, and it has become one of the most iconic shots in cricket.
The helicopter shot is a shot that requires a high level of skill and technique, and Dhoni has mastered it to perfection. It involves using the bottom hand to generate maximum power and speed for the bat, which results in the ball being hit hard and far. It requires a lot of practice and power to play the helicopter shot.
The shot has been a favorite of MS Dhoni in limited-overs cricket. Especially in the death overs when the team needs quick runs. He has used the shot to great effect, hitting sixes and fours at crucial moments in matches. It is now set as an example of Dhoni’s batting skills and serves as motivation for many young cricketers.
The helicopter shot is not just a stroke; it’s a combination of skill, strength, and innovation. Dhoni’s use of the shot has added a new dimension to the game, inspiring other cricketers to develop new shots and techniques.
4. Indian Army Honors
MS Dhoni’s connection with the Indian Army is well-known and goes beyond just being a cricket player. He is a true supporter of the Indian Military Forces. His activities on and off the field show his respect for the soldiers.
Dhoni was given the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army in 2011. After that, he has taken a leading position in promoting the welfare of soldiers and their families. In 2019, he even skipped a tour with the Indian cricket team to serve with his unit in Kashmir.
Dhoni has also undergone a two-week training program with the Indian Army’s Parachute Regiment. The training involved physical fitness drills, tactical exercises, and jumps from a height of 10,000 feet.
Dhoni’s passion for the armed services is shown by his training with the Indian Army. His dedication to serving his country extends beyond the cricket field. He has gained love and respect from fans all over India due to his involvement with the Army, and many people look up to him as a result.
5. Richest Indian Cricketer
MS Dhoni is clearly one of the Richest Indian cricketers. He has made a fortune through his cricketing career, brand endorsements, and business ventures. Dhoni’s net worth is estimated to be over $120 million in the year 2023. This makes Dhoni one of the richest cricketers in India.
Apart from his cricketing career, Dhoni has invested in many companies. He is the co-owner of one of the biggest and most successful franchises of IPL, Chennai Super King (CSK). He has also made investments in other businesses, such as a real estate firm and a fitness brand.
Dhoni’s popularity and success on the field made him a brand ambassador of different well-known brands like Viacom18. He also promotes and does ads for big brands like Oreo, Unacademy, Star Sports 2022, Cars24, etc.
6. Awards and Honors
MS Dhoni’s illustrious career has been decorated with several awards and honors, both at the national and international levels. He has got recognition because of his contribution to Indian National Cricket Team on and off the field.
Dhoni was honored with India’s fourth-highest civilian award, the Padma Shri in 2009 for his outstanding performance in cricket. He was also awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India’s highest sporting honor, in 2007, for his exceptional captaincy and leadership skills.
Dhoni was named ICC ODI Player of the Year twice in the years 2008 and 2009 because of his excellent performance in One Day International matches. He was also named the ICC Captain of the Year three times, in 2008, 2009, and 2013.
In addition to these honors, Dhoni has received media attention for his contributions to Indian cricket from a number of sports organizations.
He was listed in the world’s top 100 influential people by Time magazine. Also, listed as one of the greatest sportsmen in the world by Forbes magazine.
7. Captain Cool
Dhoni is usually called Captain Cool. Because of their calm nature in the field and handling the team without getting any pressure, he got the nickname “Captain Cool”.
Dhoni’s calm and collected personality have been instrumental in leading the Indian cricket team to several victories in high-pressure situations. He remains cool in high-pressure situations also which gives confidence to the other team member also.
The 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy is the most perfect example of Dhoni’s coolness. India won all of these tournaments under pressure all thanks to Captain Cool.
8. Record-Breaker
Dhoni holds several records in cricket, including Captains who kept wickets (60), 300 runs, and 15 wicketkeeping dismissals in a series, Most dismissals in an inning(60), etc. Below we have listed the most important records of MS Dhoni.
Title | Record | Ranking |
---|---|---|
MOST DISMISSALS IN AN INNINGS (ODIS) | 6 Dismissals | 1st |
MOST DISMISSALS IN AN INNINGS (T20I) | 5 Dismissals | 1st |
MOST STUMPINGS IN CAREER (T20I) | 34 Stumpings in 98 matches | 1st |
CAPTAINS WHO HAVE KEPT WICKET (ODIS) | 200 Matches | 1st |
CAPTAINS WHO HAVE KEPT WICKET (Test) | 60 Matches | 1st |
MOST RUNS IN AN INNINGS BY A WICKETKEEPER (ODIS) | 183* Runs | 1st |
MOST STUMPINGS IN AN INNINGS (ODIS) | 3 Stumpings | 1st |
MOST MATCHES AS CAPTAIN (Combined) | 332 matches | 1st |
MOST STUMPINGS IN CAREER (Combined) | 195 Stumpings in 538 | 1st |
MOST STUMPINGS IN CAREER (Test) | 38 Stumpings in 90 matches | 3rd |
9. Family of Dhoni
Dhoni married Sakshi Singh Rawat, a hotel management student, in 2010. The couple has a daughter named Ziva. She was born on February 6 in the year 2015.
Dhoni has always made time for his family despite his demanding schedule as a cricketer and team captain. He often gives credit to his wife and daughter for supporting him.
10. Retirement from International Cricket
In August 2020, MS Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a glittering career spanning over a decade and a half. Dhoni had last played for India in the 2019 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand, where he had scored a valiant 50 in a losing cause.
Dhoni played 90 Tests, 350 ODIs, and 98 T20Is for India, amassing over 17,000 runs and taking more than 600 catches behind the stumps. He will be always remembered as one of the greatest players and captains.
Bonus Facts about Mahendra Singh Dhoni
- Before starting his career as a professional cricket player, MS Dhoni worked for the Indian Railways.
- Dhoni didn’t play cricket at first, he played football and badminton.
- He became the first cricketer to be named twice as ICC ODI Player of the Year.
- Dhoni has a large collection of bikes amounting to crores of rupees.
- MS Dhoni co-owns a motorcycle racing team with Akkineni Nagarjuna (Telugu Film Actor).
- MS Dhoni’s trademark shot ‘Helicopter Shot’ is not his own creation but was taught by his friend.
What is MS Dhoni’s net worth?
According to Forbes, Dhoni’s net worth is estimated to be around $111 million as of 2021. (More than $120 million in 2023)
How many centuries does MS Dhoni have in international cricket?
Dhoni has scored 16 centuries in international cricket, 6 in Tests and 10 in ODIs.
What is MS Dhoni’s highest score in international cricket?
Dhoni’s highest score in international cricket is 224, which he scored in a Test match against Australia in 2013.
Which team in IPL does MS Dhoni play from?
MS Dhoni is the captain of Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. He is also the co-owner of CSK.