The Indian ODI team in the early 2000s saw Rahul Dravid as the wicket-keeper to ensure that the

wicket-keeper spot didn't lack in batting talent and also tried other wicket-keeper/batsmen
like Parthiv Patel and Dinesh Karthik.[35] With Dhoni performing well for the India A squad, he was
picked in the ODI squad for the Bangladesh tour in December 2004.[36] Dhoni made his debut in the
first match of the series and was run out for a duck.[37] Dhoni was picked for the subsequent ODI
series against Pakistan.[38] In the second match of the series in Visakhapatnam, Dhoni playing in his
fifth one-day international, scored 148 runs off 123 deliveries which surpassed the earlier record for
the highest score by an Indian wicket-keeper.[39] Dhoni played in the Sri Lankan bilateral ODI
series in October–November 2005 and was promoted to No. 3 in the batting order in the third ODI
at Jaipur where he scored an unbeaten 183 runs off 145 balls, winning the game for India.[40] The
innings would surpass his earlier record for the highest score by an Indian wicket-keeper and was
described in Wisden Almanack as 'Uninhibited, yet anything but crude'.[41] It was also the highest
individual score in ODI cricket in a run chase, a record which was broken seven years later
by Shane Watson.[42][43] Dhoni ended the series with the highest aggregate of 346 runs and was
awarded the Man of the series.[44]

Dhoni keeping wickets in a test match

Dhoni became a regular in the Indian side after the home series against South Africa in November
2005.[45] In December 2005, Dhoni was awarded a "B" grade contract by the BCCI.[46] Dhoni made his
test debut in the same month against Sri Lanka during their tour of India at Chennai.[47][48] Dhoni
scored 30 runs in his debut match, that was marred by rain and ended in a draw.[49] Dhoni made his
maiden half-century in the second test leading to an Indian win.[50] Dhoni played all the matches in
the subsequent tour of Pakistan scoring 219 runs in five ODI matches and 179 runs in five tests
including his maiden test century in the second test in Faisalabad.[51] He scored 106 runs across
three tests in the home series against England in March 2006 and 177 runs in five ODI series that
followed.[51][45] Dhoni dropped multiple catches and missed dismissal chances including a key
stumping opportunity of Andrew Flintoff which led to criticism of his wicket-keeping.[52]
In the DLF Cup 2006-07, Dhoni scored 43 runs as the team lost twice in three games and did not
qualify for the finals. In the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy, India lost to West Indies and Australia,
though Dhoni scored a half-century against West Indies and failed to make it to the knock out
stage.[53] In the ODI series in South Africa in November 2006, Dhoni scored 139 runs in four matches
in the series loss.[45] In the test series that followed, Dhoni scored 114 runs in two tests including a
first test victory in South Africa in the first test, but was ruled out of the third test with injury.[54] Dhoni
made his T20 international debut in December 2006 against South Africa at Johannesburg.[55] Dhoni
was subsequently named in the ODI team of the year by the ICC for 2006.[56]
2007 World T20 and captaincy
India recorded identical 3–1 victories over West Indies and Sri Lanka in early 2007 with Dhoni
averaging in excess of 100 in both the series. Subsequently, Dhoni was part of the squad for 2007
Cricket World Cup in which India unexpectedly crashed out in the group stage after losses to
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka with Dhoni scoring ducks in both these matches and just 29 runs in the
tournament.[45][57] As a result, Dhoni's house in Ranchi was vandalized and damaged by activists
of JMM and security was tightened for his family.[58] Dhoni scored 91* against Bangladesh in the first
match of the ODI series in May 2007 which fetched the Man of the Match award while also later
winning the Man of the Series after the third game of the series was washed away.[59] Dhoni played
for ACC Asia XI cricket team in the Afro-Asia Cup, scoring 174 runs in three matches at an average
of 87 including 139 off 97 balls in the third ODI.[60]
Dhoni was named vice-captain of the ODI team for the 2007 Future Cup against South Africa
in Ireland and the subsequent seven-match series against England.[61] Dhoni was awarded an 'A'
grade contract by BCCI in June 2007.[62] Dhoni was appointed as the captain of the Indian squad for
the inaugural World Twenty20 in September 2007.[63] Dhoni led India to victory in the tournament
after defeating Pakistan in the final.[64][65] Dhoni was appointed as the captain of Indian cricket team in
all formats later.[66]
On 2 September 2007, Dhoni equaled Adam Gilchrist's international record for the most dismissals
in an innings in ODI by effecting six dismissals against England.[67] Dhoni took his first and only
wicket in international cricket on 30 September 2009 when he bowled Travis Dowlin of West Indies
in the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy.[68] However, he scored just three runs in the only match he
batted with India crashing out of the series in the group stage after the match against Australia was
washed out.[69] Dhoni averaged more than 60 in the 2008-09 season.[70] Dhoni scored two centuries
during Sri Lanka's tour of India in November 2009 which India won to achieve the top ranking in ICC
test ranking for the first time in its history.[71] Dhoni had an excellent year in ODIs in 2009, scoring
1198 runs in just 24 innings, at an average of 70.43 and topped the ICC ODI batsman rankings for
several months.[72] He was named as captain and wicket-keeper of the ICC ODI Team of the year.[73]
2011 World Cup win and later

Wicket-keeping kit and bat used by Dhoni during the 2011

Cricket World Cup on display at the Blades of Glory Cricket Museum
Dhoni led the Indian squad for the 2011 Cricket World Cup co-hosted by India.[74] India won its
second ever ODI world cup after defeating Sri Lanka in the final with Dhoni being named man of the
match for scoring an unbeaten 91.[75] In December 2012, Pakistan toured India for a bilateral
series for the first time in five years and Dhoni top-scored in all the three matches of the series with a
century in the first ODI at Chennai.[76] Dhoni led India to victory in the 2013 ICC Champions
Trophy and became the first and the only captain in international cricket to claim all ICC limited overs
trophies. In the rain-shortened final against England, India won by five runs on DLS method though
Dhoni himself was out for a duck.[77] He was also named as captain and wicket-keeper of the 'Team
of the Tournament' by the ICC.[78]

Dhoni batting against South Africa during the group stage

match of 2013 ICC Champions Trophy
After the Champions Trophy, India toured West Indies for a tri-nation tournament against the hosts
and Sri Lanka.[79] Dhoni got injured at the start of the tournament thus ruling him out for most of the
tournament and returned to play the final where he was adjudged Man of the match for scoring 45
runs off 52 balls including 16 runs in the final cricket to take India to victory by one wicket.[80] In
November 2013, Dhoni became the second India batsman after Sachin Tendulkar to aggregate
more than thousand runs in ODIs against Australia.[81] India toured South Africa and New Zealand in
the 2013–14 season. Though Dhoni scored 84 runs at an average of 48 including one half-century
against South Africa and 272 runs with three consecutive 50-plus scores against New Zealand, India
lost both the series.[45] Dhoni himself reached 8000 runs in ODI in the series against New
Zealand.[82] Dhoni led India in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 where India finished as runners-up after
losing to Sri Lanka in the final.[83] He was named as captain and wicket-keeper of the 'Team of the
Tournament' by the ICC.[84]
India won the away ODI series in England in 2014 and series against West Indies in India where
Dhoni scored 146 runs across the five innings he batted.[85][45]
Test retirement and 2015 World cup
Dhoni played his last series during India's tour of Australia in December 2014. Following the third
Test in Melbourne, Dhoni announced his retirement from the format.[86] In his last test, he effected
nine dismissals (eight catches and a stumping), and in the process, went past Kumar Sangakkara's
record for most stumpings in international cricket and also set a record for effecting the most
dismissals in a match by an Indian wicketkeeper until it was broken by Wriddhiman Saha in
2018.[87][88] In the Carlton Mid triangular series in Australia, India failed to win a single match with
Dhoni himself managing just 70 runs from three innings at an average of 23.34.[89]
During the 2015 Cricket World Cup, Dhoni became the first Indian captain to win all group stage
matches in a world cup.[90] In the match against Zimbabwe at Auckland, he made 85 which was the
highest score by an Indian captain in New Zealand. After beating Bangladesh in the quarter finals,
he became the third overall and the first non-Australian captain to win 100 ODI matches.[91] India lost
to eventual champions Australia in the semi-finals with Dhoni having a good series, scoring 237 runs
in six innings at an average of 59.25 and a strike rate of 102.15 and thus, became only the second
Indian captain to have an average over 50 and strike rate over 100 in a particular season of the
World Cup.[92][93]
Final years and retirement
Dhoni led India to victory in the 2016 Asia Cup where India remained unbeaten.[94] Dhoni stepped
down as captain of India in January 2017 ahead of the ODI series at home against England.[95] In the
second game of the series, he scored 134 off 122 balls, his tenth century in ODIs and his first in over
three years.[96] He was named as a wicket-keeper of the 'Team of the Tournament' at the 2017 ICC
Champions Trophy in which India finished as runners-up.[97][98] In August 2017, during the fifth and
final ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo, he became the first wicket-keeper to effect 100 stumpings in
ODIs when he stumped Akila Dananjaya off Yuzvendra Chahal.[99] He reached the milestone of
effecting 400 dismissals in ODIs in February 2018, following the stumping of Aiden Markram in the
third ODI of the South Africa tour.[100]
Though he had a relatively mediocre series scoring 79 runs in two innings at a strike rate of 63.20
during India's 2018 tour of England, he went past 10,000 ODI runs, becoming the fourth Indian and
twelfth overall to do so.[101][102][103] In the 2018 Asia Cup title winning campaign, he scored just 77 runs
in four innings at an average of 19.25.[104][105] While captaining in the group stage match
against Afghanistan due to regular captain Rohit Sharma being unavailable, Dhoni became the first
cricketer to lead India 200 times in ODIs.[106] Dhoni aggregated 50 runs from three innings in
the home series against West Indies.[107][108] Dhoni was not selected for the T20I squad for the series
that followed and the Australia tour later that season.[109] However, he was included in the squad for
the ODI series in Australia.[110] In the three-match series, Dhoni scored half-centuries in all three
games with the latter two resulting in wins, helping India secure a 2–1 series victory, their first in a
bilateral series on Australian soil and was named player of the series while also becoming the fourth
Indian to score more than 1,000 ODI runs in Australia.[111] In April 2019, he was named in India's
squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.[112][113] On 9 July 2019, Dhoni played in his 350th and final ODI
in the semi-final loss against New Zealand.[114] Dhoni announced his retirement from international
cricket on 15 August 2020 as he had not played any international cricket since India's loss in the
2019 world cup semi-final.[115]

Domestic career
Dhoni made his debut in first class and List A cricket in the 1999–2000 season for Bihar. He has also
played for Rajasthan Cricket Association President's XI, East zone and Rest of India in domestic
cricket.[116] In BCCI Corporate trophy, he played for Air India until his resignation from the company in
2013.[117] In February 2005, Dhoni played for India seniors in Challenger trophy, where he scored 102
against India B.[118] Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) appointed him captain of the
Jharkhand team in February 2017 for the 2017-18 Vijay Hazare trophy and on 25 February 2017, he
scored his first ever domestic list-A century against Chhattisgarh and led the team to the quarter final
where Jharkhand lost against Delhi.[119][120]

Indian Premier League

Representing Chennai Super Kings

T20 Cricket

Indian Premier League

Winner 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023

Runner-up 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019

Champions League

Winner 2010, 2014

Representing Rising Pune Supergiants

T20 Cricket

Indian Premier League

Runner-up 2017
Dhoni was acquired by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for US$1.5 million during the auction for
the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was the most expensive signing in the
auction.[121] Dhoni scored 414 runs to lead CSK to the finals in the first season of IPL.[122] Under his
captaincy, CSK won the 2010 season and qualified for Champions League Twenty20.[123] Chennai
won the 2010 Champions league.[124] Dhoni scored 392 runs and led CSK to its second consecutive
IPL title in 2011.[125] Dhoni led CSK to its second Champions League Twenty20 title in 2014.[126] Dhoni
scored 2987 runs from 129 matches in the IPL across the first eight seasons for the Super Kings.[122]

Dhoni with Chennai Super Kings in 2011

Following the two-year suspension of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, two new
franchises Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat Lions were established for the 2016 Indian Premier
League season. Supergiants picked Dhoni as one of their five draft picks on 15 December 2015
for ₹125 million (US$1.6 million).[127] He scored 574 runs in 30 matches across two seasons for the
Supergiants.[122]
Dhoni returned to Chennai Super Kings for the 2018 season.[128] Dhoni scored 455 runs in the
season and led CSK to its third IPL title.[129] Dhoni led CSK to the title again in 2021 and was retained
by CSK for ₹12 crore (US$1.5 million) before the auction for 2022 season.[130] He stepped down from
the captaincy of CSK on 24 March 2022 and Ravindra Jadeja was appointed as the new
captain.[131][132] However, on 30 April 2022, Jadeja handed over the captaincy back to Dhoni in the
middle of the season.[133] Dhoni led the franchise to victory in the 2023 IPL season.[125] Under his
captaincy, CSK became the most successful IPL franchise with five title wins and ten final
appearances.[134] MS Dhoni became the first player to play 200 T20 matches for Super Kings and
holds the record for most appearances in the IPL.[135]

Outside cricket

Chief of Army Staff, Gen. V.K. Singh bestowing the rank of

Hon. Lt. Col. to Dhoni
Dhoni holds an honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Regiment of the Indian
Territorial Army (106 Para TA battalion).[136] The honorary rank was presented to him by the Indian
Army in 2011 for his service to the nation as a cricketer.[3] After completing five parachute training
jumps from Indian Army aircraft in the Agra training camp, he became a qualified paratrooper in
2015.[137] In August 2019, he completed a two-week stint with the Territorial Army in Jammu and
Kashmir.[138] While spending a day with the parachute regiment in Ranchi, Dhoni said, I wanted to
become a soldier not a cricketer, "Since childhood I wanted to join the Army. Seeing the soldiers, I
thought that one day I'll be the same".[139]
Dhoni holds the post of vice-president in India Cements Ltd, the company owned by former BCCI
president N. Srinivasan.[140][141] Dhoni is a co-owner of Chennai-based football club Chennaiyin FC, a
franchise of the Indian Super League.[142] He also co-owns Ranchi-based hockey club Ranchi Rays,
a franchise of the Hockey India League.[143] In February 2016, Dhoni launched lifestyle
brand SEVEN which he co-owns while also serving as its brand ambassador.[144] In 2019, Dhoni
invested in vehicle re-seller CARS24 and simultaneously became brand ambassador of the
company.[145] On 11 October 2022, Dhoni invested in Shaka Harry, a plant-based protein
company.[146][147]

No.7 jersey made popular by Dhoni

In 2019, Dhoni Entertainment entered into a long-term business agreement with Banijay Asia to
produce content across various genres.[148] The first show developed by the company was a
documentary web series titled Roar of The Lion, about the comeback of the Chennai Super Kings to
lift the 2018 Indian Premier League starring MS Dhoni in the lead role.[149] The production house
produced a Tamil language romantic drama LGM which was released on 28 July 2023.[150][151][152]
Dhoni is one of the most popular cricketers in the world.[153] He serves as a brand ambassdor and
endorses more than 35 brands across various segments.[154] As of 2022, Dhoni has more than 75
million followers on social media platforms and his brand value was projected to be $80.3 million
by Duff and Phelps.[155] Dhoni's popularity is often compared to Sachin Tendulkar, the highest run
scorer in international cricket.[156][157] Dhoni is revered as a God-like figure in India.[158] The No.7 jersey
has been made popular by Dhoni which was retired in 2023 by BCCI.[159] Dhoni has developed a
special connection with the city of Chennai whose IPL franchise he represents with fans calling him
'Thala' meaning leader in Tamil.[160][161]

Playing style

Dhoni in 2008
Dhoni is a right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper.[116] Dhoni is an unorthodox batsman who
deviates from conventional coaching manuals to showcase his batting technique.[162] Dhoni displays
a proclivity for hitting full-length deliveries towards the Long-on, Long-off, and Midwicket regions,
rather than the conventional Cover region.[162] He plays pull shots and hook shots off short-
pitched deliveries often putting pressure on the bowler to adjust their line and length accordingly.
Dhoni holds the bat with a firm grip at the bottom of the handle, striking the ball with force and
precision to clear the boundary.[163] He is a powerful hitter of the ball and is one of the fastest men in
running between the wickets.[164] He plays the helicopter shot technique, taught to him by a fellow
player and childhood friend Santosh Lal.[165][166][167] As a batsman, he is recognized for his finishing
skills in high-pressure situations.[168]
He has also been praised for his lightning-fast glove-work behind the stumps while also being
criticized for the lack of good technique.[169][170] He is known for his unorthodox captaincy,
approachability and has earned a reputation of being a successful leader.[171][172] Dhoni is also known
for his cool-headed demeanor on the field which has earned him the monicker "Captain cool".[173]

Personal life
Dhoni married Sakshi Singh Rawat on 4 July 2010 in Dehradun.[174][175] Dhoni and his wife have a
daughter, Zeeva born on 6 February 2015.[176][177] He lives in his farmhouse outside Ranchi.[178] Dhoni
owns a number of bikes and cars in his collection.[179]

Career statistics
Dhoni has scored 4876 runs in Test matches at an average of 38 and 10773 runs at an average of
above 50 in ODIs. He has scored 16 centuries and 106 fifties in his international career.[116] Dhoni
has one of the highest averages in ODI cricket.[180] Dhoni has scored more than 3200 runs across
377 T20 matches.[116] Dhoni has taken 634 catches and effected 195 stumpings in his international
career making him one of the most prolific wicket-keepers of all time.[181]