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Everyone talks about MS Dhoni’s meteoric rise but few have spent time cataloguing his journey as painstakingly as veteran sports journalist Gulu Ezekiel. The 2013 updated version of his book Captain Cool: The MS Dhoni Story is a must-have for die-hard fans of Dhoni and Indian cricket. The book does not have any narrative as such, and, instead, reads like a long, insightful match report. It is one man’s full-throttle journey from obscurity to international stardom. The book is at its strongest at the start. Ezekiel has used his extensive network of contacts in the world of cricket, including former players, coaches and administrators, to highlight Dhoni’s humble Ranchi roots like no one else.
The first two chapters, ‘Early Years’ and ‘First Class Cricket’, give a great insight into the kinds of challenges Dhoni faced while growing up: He wasn’t a natural like Sachin Tendulkar; he was rejected by the Railways Ranji Trophy team; playing for a small Ranji side like Bihar wasn’t easy either, and the 2001-02 season was an “unmitigated disaster”. Ezekiel makes us realise what it means to slog it out in cricket’s dusty domestic circuit.
Statistician Mohandas Menon adds a lot of value, especially with Dhoni’s batting figures when he played for Bihar, Jharkhand and East Zone. The book is peppered with interesting nuggets like this one: Dhoni developed a unique technique by playing with a tennis ball on 18-yard pitches in Kharagpur, where he moved in 2001 for his first job as a railway ticket collector. On these pitches, bowlers consistently bowled yorkers and Dhoni had to learn to use his shoulders and forearms to dig the ball out—a skill that helps him today. What is most enjoyable is viewing cricket through the prism of a wicket keeper. We are so used to stats about batting averages and wickets, but what about stumpings and catches? Ezekiel writes, for example, “Dhoni must have been disappointed not to have taken a catch, or made a stumping on his ODI debut, but at least he did not concede a bye.” It’s not a book for all cricket or sports fans though, and certainly not for casual readers.
In essence it is a linear, largely repetitive archive of one man’s cricket record. Granted, the man has a sensational story and the records are extraordinary, but for those who have watched his career blossom since he made it big, the second part of the book—a blow-by-blow account of his recent matches—is fairly drab. This is the kind of book that will be immensely interesting to read 20 years down the line, when we want in-depth reporting on internal team dynamics and Dhoni’s fielding changes in crunch games. The photographs are lacklustre. The one of him in his Ranchi school team and him riding his motorcycle around the field at Faridabad are the only ones I’ll remember. The rest are things you’ll find in a Google search. The stats that make up the appendix are largely irrelevant—since they change with every match, and will continue to do so till Dhoni retires—and more accessible online.
The book does not conclude with any analysis of what keeps Dhoni cool under pressure, which is disappointing given the book’s title. Instead, it explores the challenges of bearing the triple responsibility of being a specialist batsman, wicket keeper and captain. Captain Cool: The MS Dhoni Story (Revised and Updated edition) Author: Gulu Ezekiel Publisher: Westland Pages: 211 Price: Rs 200.
. (2004-present) Test debut (cap ) 2 December 2005 v Last Test 26 December 2014 v debut (cap ) 23 December 2004 v Last ODI 17 July 2018 v ODI shirt no. 7 T20I debut (cap ) 1 December 2006 v Last T20I 8 July 2018 v T20I shirt no. 7 Domestic team information Years Team 19/04 2004/05–present 2008–2015; 2018-present (squad no. 7) 2016–2017 (squad no. 7) 2018 Career statistics Competition Matches 90 320 93 131 Runs scored 4,876 10,046 1,487 7,038 38.09 51.25 37.17 36.84 100s/50s 6/33 10/67 0/2 9/47 Top score 224 183 56 224 bowled 96 36 – 126 0 1 – 0 – 31.00 – – 5 wickets in 0 0 – 0 10 wickets in match 0 0 – 0 Best bowling – 1/14 – – Catches/ 256/38 297/107 54/33 364/57. Source:, 14 July 2018 Mahendra Singh Dhoni ( ; commonly known as MS Dhoni; born 7 July 1981) is an international who the in limited-overs formats from 2007 to 2016 and in from 2008 to 2014. An attacking right-handed middle-order batsman and, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest finishers in limited-overs cricket. He is also regarded as one of the best wicket-keepers in world cricket and is known to have very fast hands.
He made his (ODI) debut in December 2004 against, and played his first Test a year later against. Dhoni has been the recipient of many awards, including the award in 2008 and 2009 (the first player to win the award twice), the award in 2007, the, India's fourth highest civilian honour, in 2009 and the, India's third highest civilian honour, in 2018. He was named as the captain of the in 2009, 2010 and 2013. He has also been selected a record 8 times in teams, 5 times as captain.
The Indian conferred the honorary rank of to Dhoni on 1 November 2011. He is the second Indian cricketer after to receive this honour.
Dhoni also holds numerous captaincy records such as the most wins by an Indian captain in Tests, ODIs and T20Is, and most back-to-back wins by an Indian captain in ODIs. He took over the ODI captaincy from in 2007 and led the team to its first-ever bilateral ODI series wins in Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Under his captaincy, India won the, the CB Series of 2007–08, the and Asia Cups, the and the. In the final of the 2011 World Cup, Dhoni scored 91 not out off 79 balls handing the victory for which he was awarded the Man of the Match. In June 2013, when India defeated England in the final of the Champions Trophy in England, Dhoni became the first captain to win all three ICC limited-overs trophies (World Cup, Champions Trophy and the World Twenty20). After taking up the Test captaincy in 2008, he led the team to series wins in New Zealand and West Indies, and the in 2008, 2010 and 2013.
In 2009, Dhoni also led the Indian team to number one position for the first time in the. In 2013, under his captaincy, India became the first team in more than 40 years to Australia in a Test series. In the, he captained the to victory at the, and seasons, along with wins in the and editions of. He announced his retirement from Tests on 30 December 2014.
In 2011, magazine included Dhoni in its annual list as one of the 'Most Influential People in the World.' In 2012, rated Dhoni as the sixteenth most marketable athlete in the world. In June 2015, Forbes ranked Dhoni at 23rd in the, estimating his earnings at 31 million. In 2016, a biopic was made about him.
Dhoni holds the post of Vice-President of, after resigning from. India Cements is the owner of the IPL team Chennai Super Kings, and Dhoni has been its captain since the first IPL season. Dhoni is the co-owner of team.
On 14 July 2018 during the, Dhoni became the first wicket-keeper for India and also became the fourth overall to take 300 catches in ODIs. In the same match, he set another milestone for becoming the fourth Indian and the 12th overall player to reach 10,000 runs in ODI cricket, in fact went onto become only the second wicket-keeper batsman after to score 10,000 runs in ODIs. Contents. Early life and background Dhoni was born in, (now in ), and he identifies as a. His paternal village Lvali is in the Lamgarha block of the of.
Dhoni's parents moved from to Ranchi, where his father Pan Singh worked in junior management positions in. Dhoni has a sister Jayanti Gupta and a brother Narendra Singh Dhoni. Dhoni is a fan of, and his childhood idols were cricket teammate, actor and singer Dhoni studied at, Ranchi, Jharkhand where he initially excelled in badminton and and was selected at district and club level in these sports. Dhoni was a for his football team and was sent to play cricket for a local cricket club by his football coach. Though he had not played cricket, Dhoni impressed with his wicket-keeping skills and became the regular wicketkeeper at the Commando cricket club (1995–1998). Based on his performance at club cricket, he was picked for the 1997/98 season Vinoo Mankad Trophy Under-16 Championship and he performed well. Dhoni focused on cricket after his 10th.
Dhoni was a (TTE) at from 2001 to 2003, under South Eastern Railway in Midnapore (W), a district in. His colleagues remember him as a very honest, straightforward employee of the Indian Railways. But he also had a mischievous side to his personality.
Once, while staying at the railway quarters, Dhoni and a couple of his friends covered themselves in white bedsheets and walked around in the complex late in the night. The night guards were fooled into believing that there were ghosts moving around in the complex. The story made big news on the next day.
Early career Junior cricket in Bihar In 1998, Dhoni was selected by Deval Sahay to play for the Central Coal Fields Limited (CCL) team. Till 1998 Dhoni, who was in class 12th in school, had played only school cricket and club cricket and no professional cricket. One of the famous episodes, when Dhoni used to play for CCL, was when Deval Sahay used to gift him Rs 50 for each six that he hit in Sheesh Mahal tournament cricket matches.
Playing for CCL, he got a chance to bat up the order. He grabbed the opportunity and scored centuries and helped CCL move to the A division. Deval Sahay impressed by his hard-hitting shots and dedication, used his contacts in Bihar Cricket Association to push for his selection in the Bihar team. Deval Sahay, an ex Bihar Cricket Association Vice-President, was the Ranchi District Cricket President at that time and was instrumental in pushing Dhoni to the big stage of Ranchi team, junior Bihar cricket team and eventually senior Bihar Ranji Team for the 1999–2000 season. Within 1 year, Dhoni moved from playing in CCL to the Bihar Ranji team. Dhoni was included in the Bihar U-19 squad for the 1998–99 season and scored 176 runs in 5 matches (7 innings) as the team finished fourth in the group of six and did not make it to the quarter-finals. Dhoni was not picked for the East Zone U-19 squad (CK Nayudu Trophy) or Rest of India squad (MA Chidambaram Trophy and Vinoo Mankad Trophy).
U-19 cricket team advanced to the finals of the 1999–2000 Cooch Behar Trophy, where Dhoni made 84 to help Bihar post a total of 357. Bihar's efforts were dwarfed by U-19s' 839 with Dhoni's future national squad teammate making 358. Dhoni's contribution in the tournament included 488 runs (9 matches, 12 innings), 5 fifties, 17 catches and 7 stumpings. Dhoni made it to the East Zone U-19 squad for the CK Nayudu trophy but scored only 97 runs in four matches, as East Zone lost all four matches and finished last in the tournament. Bihar cricket team Dhoni made his debut for in the 1999–2000 season, as an eighteen-year-old. He made a half century in his debut match scoring 68.
in the second innings against. Dhoni finished the season with 283 runs in 5 matches. Dhoni scored his maiden first-class century while playing for against in the 2000/01 season, in a losing cause. Apart from this century, his performance in the 2000/01 season did not include another score over fifty and in the 2001/02 season, he scored just five fifties in four Ranji matches.
Jharkhand cricket team Dhoni's performance in the 2002–03 season included three half-centuries in the Ranji Trophy and a couple of half-centuries in the Deodhar Trophy, as he started gaining recognition for his lower-order contribution as well as hard-hitting batting style. In the 2003/04 season, Dhoni scored a century (128.) against Assam in the first match of the Ranji ODI tournament. Dhoni was part of the squad that won the Deodhar Trophy 2003–2004 season and contributed with 244 runs in 4 matches, including a century (114) against Central zone. In the Duleep Trophy finals, Dhoni was picked over international cricketer to represent East Zone.
He scored a fighting half-century in the second innings in a losing cause. Dhoni's talent was discovered via the 's small-town talent-spotting initiative. Dhoni was discovered by TRDO, captain of in the 1960s, when he saw Dhoni play for at a match in in 2003, and sent a report to the. India A team He was recognised for his efforts in the 2003/04 season, especially in the One Day format and was picked for the squad for a tour of and.
Against the Zimbabwe XI in, Dhoni had his best wicket-keeping effort with 7 catches and 4 stumpings in the match. In the tri-nation tournament involving Kenya, India A and Pakistan A, Dhoni helped India A chase down their target of 223 against Pakistan A with a half-century. Continuing his good performance, he scored back to back centuries – 120 and 119. – against the same team. Dhoni scored 362 runs in 6 innings at an average of 72.40 and his performance in the series received attention from the then – Sourav Ganguly and Ravi Shastri, amongst others.
However, the India A team coach recommended Dinesh Karthik for a place in the Indian squad as wicket-keeper/batsman. ODI career Start of ODI career The Indian ODI team in the early 2000s saw as the wicket-keeper to ensure that the wicket-keeper spot didn't lack in batting talent. The team also saw the entry of wicket-keeper/batsmen from the junior ranks, with talents like and (both ) named in the Test squads. With Dhoni making a mark in the India A squad, he was picked in the ODI squad for the. Dhoni did not have a great start to his ODI career, getting for a duck on debut. In spite of an average series against, Dhoni was picked for the Pakistan ODI series.
Start of 'Dhoni' era In the second match of the, Dhoni, in his fifth one-day international, scored 148 in off only 123 deliveries. Dhoni's 148 surpassed the earlier record for the highest score by an Indian wicket-keeper, a record that he would re-write before the end of the year. Dhoni had few batting opportunities in the first two games of the and was promoted to No. 3 in the third ODI at. Sri Lanka had set India a target of 299 after a century and, in reply, India lost Tendulkar early.
Dhoni was promoted to accelerate the scoring and ended the game with an unbeaten 183 off 145 balls, winning the game for India. The innings was described in (2006) as 'Uninhibited, yet anything but crude'. The innings set various including the highest individual score in ODI cricket in the second innings, a record that still stands.
Dhoni ended the series with the highest run aggregate (346) and was awarded the Man of the Series award for his efforts. In December 2005, Dhoni was rewarded a B-grade contract by the. Dhoni bowling in the nets.
He rarely bowls at international level. India scored 328 in 50 overs with Dhoni contributing 68 in their first match of 2006 against. However, the team finished poorly scoring just 43 runs in the last eight overs and lost the match due to.
In the third match of the series, Dhoni came in with India in a precarious situation and scored 72 runs off just 46 balls that included 13 boundaries to help India take a 2–1 lead in the series. The final match of the series had a repeat performance as Dhoni scored 77 runs off 56 balls to enable India win the series 4–1. Due to his consistent ODI performances, Dhoni overtook as number one in the for batsmen on 20 April 2006. His reign lasted just a week as 's performance against moved him to the top spot.
Two cancelled series in Sri Lanka, one due to the withdrawal of South Africa from the Unitech Cup due to security concerns and the replacement three-match ODI bilateral series against Sri Lanka washed due to rain, was India's prelude to another disappointing tournament –. Dhoni scored 43 runs as the team lost twice in three games and did not qualify for the finals. India's lack of preparation showed in the as they lost to and, though Dhoni scored a half-century against West Indies. The story of the in was the same for both Dhoni and India as Dhoni scored 139 runs in 4 matches and India lost the series 4–0. From the start of the West Indies ODI series, Dhoni had played 16 matches, hit just two fifties and averaged 25.93.
Dhoni received criticism on his wicket-keeping technique from former wicket-keeper. Preparation for 2007 worldcup Preparations for the improved as India recorded identical 3–1 victories over and and Dhoni had averages in excess of 100 in both these series. 2007 World Cup early exit India unexpectedly crashed out of the World Cup after losses to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the group stage.
Dhoni was out for a in both these matches and scored just 29 runs in the tournament. After the loss to in, the house that Dhoni was constructing in his home-town Ranchi was vandalised and damaged by political activists of. The local police arranged for security for his family as India exited the World Cup in the first round. Dhoni put his disappointing performances in the World Cup behind him by scoring 91.
against, after India were left in a tight spot earlier in the run-chase. Dhoni was declared the Man of the Match for his performance, his fourth in ODI cricket. He was also later adjudged the Man of the Series after the third game of the series was washed away. Dhoni had a good Afro-Asia Cup, scoring 174 runs in 3 matches at an average of 87.00, with a blitzkrieg 139 not out off 97 balls, a Man of the Match innings, in the third ODI. Dhoni was named vice-captain of the ODI team for the series against South Africa in Ireland and the subsequent India-England seven-match ODI series. Dhoni, who received a 'B' grade contract in December 2005, was awarded an 'A' grade contract in June 2007. He was also elected as the captain of the Indian squad for the World Twenty20 in September 2007.
On 2 September 2007, Dhoni equalled his idol Adam Gilchrist's international record for the most dismissals in an innings in ODI by catching five English players and stumping one. Rise through ranks During the series between India and Australia, Dhoni hit an aggressive 124 runs in just 107 balls, in the second ODI, and a measured knock of 71 runs in 95 balls, along with Yuvraj Singh and saw India home by 6 wickets in the third ODI. Dhoni took his first wicket in international cricket on 30 September 2009. He bowled of the during a match of the 2009 Champions Trophy.
Ms Dhoni Story News
Dhoni batting against South Africa during the group stage match of Dhoni topped the ICC ODI Batsman rankings for several months in 2009. From Australia replaced him at the top spot at the beginning of 2010. Dhoni had an excellent year in ODIs in 2009, scoring 1198 runs in just 24 innings, at an astonishing average of 70.43. Dhoni was also the joint top-scorer in ODIs in 2009 along with Ricky Ponting, but the latter having played 30 innings. 2011 World Cup India had a good start to the tournament beating Bangladesh. Dhoni led India to wins against Netherlands, Ireland and West Indies in the group stage.
While they lost to South Africa and tied with England. India beat Australia in the quarter finals and arch rivals Pakistan in the semis. In the final clash with Sri Lanka at Mumbai, Dhoni played a knock of 91. to help India lift the cup.
He was awarded the Man of the Match award. 2011–2016 On 12 February 2012, Dhoni made an unbeaten 44 to guide to their first win over at Adelaide. In the final over, he hit a monstrous six which traveled 112 metres off the bowling of. During the post-match presentation, he described this six as more important than the one he hit during the ICC World Cup final in 2011.
India played a bilateral series against Pakistan after first time in five years. In the three match ODI series, Dhoni was India’s highest scorer in all three matches. In the first ODI at Chennai, he rescued India from 29/5 to help India post a total of 227 in 50 overs.
He played a composed and calm knock of 113. and had a record partnership with Ravichandran Ashwin. He bagged the Man of the Match award in a losing cause. His efforts were in vain as India lost the series 2-1.
The 2013 Champions Trophy began in England and Wales. Dhoni led India to the top of group table beating South Africa, Pakistan and West Indies. They comfortably beat Sri Lanka in semi final. The final against England was reduced to 20 overs due to rain.
Dhoni failed to make a mark with the bat, yet became the first captain to lift all three ICC trophies. India beat England by 5 runs. In November 2013, Dhoni became the second India batsman after Sachin Tendulkar to aggregate 1,000 or more ODI-runs against Australia. India toured South Africa and New Zealand in 2013-14 season. India lost both the series 0-2 and 0-4 respectively. He scored 65 and 19 against South Africans while the third and final game was washed off. Against New Zealand, he managed 272 runs which included three consecutive fifties.
His second fifty of the series in the third ODI helped India tie the match and eventually avoiding a five-nil whitewash. India won the away series against England in 2014 by 3-1 and home series against West Indies 2-1.
He had a good performance with the bat. He was rested for the home series against Sri Lanka which India won 5-0 under captaincy of Virat Kohli. Dhoni again appeared in blue at the start of 2015. He led the team in tri-series against England and Australia. India had a poor performance in the tournament and failed to win a single match. He led India as the defending champions to World Cup in Australia.
India finished the group stage on high beating arch rivals Pakistan in their first match. Dhoni had useful contributions in wins against West Indies and Zimbabwe scoring two fifties.
India faced Bangladesh in quarter final clash and won the match. In the process, Dhoni became the first non-Australian captain to win 100 ODI matches. India suffered huge loss to Australia in semis despite the some resistance he offered to Australian attack. He made 65 but was run out. India ended the consecutive winning streak of 11 matches and Dhoni failed to lift the cup twice unlike Clive Lloyd and Ricky Ponting.
India toured Bangladesh in June and suffered a setback as they lost series 1-2. India also lost first bilateral home series against South Africa in October 2015 by 2-3 margin. Dhoni scores 92.
in the second ODI to help India register the first win of the tour. India lost the series against Australia 1-4 as Dhoni failed to impress with the bat. Yet, he had useful contribution in final match in Sydney to help India chase 331.
Dhoni led a young Indian side to series victory against Zimbabwe in June 2016. He did not get a chance to bat but India won the series 3-0. In 2016-17 season, India beat New Zealand 3-2. He scored a stylish 80 in third ODI to help India chase 286.
In meantime, he achieved the milestone to score 9000 ODI runs. Quitting captaincy Dhoni stepped down as captain of India in the limited over formats in January 2017, just ahead of the ODI series. In the second game of the series, he scored 134 off 122 balls, that included a 256-run partnership for the fourth wicket along with Yuvraj Singh. The hundred, his tenth in ODIs, was his first in over three years. On 8 February 2018, Dhoni became the first Indian wicket-keeper to effect 400 dismissals in ODI cricket, he achieved this feat during the following the stumping of. Test career Following his good one-day performance against Sri Lanka, Dhoni replaced in December 2005 as the Indian teams' Test wicket-keeper. Dhoni scored 30 runs in his debut match, that was marred by rain.
Dhoni came to the crease when the team was struggling at 109/5 and as wickets kept falling around him, he played an aggressive innings in which he was the last man to be dismissed. Dhoni made his maiden half-century in the second Test and his quick scoring rate (half century came off 51 balls) helped India set a target of 436 and the Sri Lankans were bowled out for 247.
India toured Pakistan in January–February 2006 and Dhoni scored his maiden century in the second Test. India was in a tight spot when Dhoni along with tried to steady the ship, with the team still needing 107 runs to avoid a follow-on. Dhoni played in his naturally aggressive style as he brought up his maiden Test hundred in just 93 balls after scoring the first fifty in just 34 deliveries.
Dhoni followed up the century with some prosaic batting performances over the next three matches, one against Pakistan that India lost and two against England that had India holding a 1–0 lead. Dhoni was the top scorer in India's first innings in the third Test at as his 64 helped India post a respectable 279 in reply to England's 400. However, Dhoni and the Indian fielders dropped catches and missed many dismissal chances, including a key stumping opportunity of (14). Dhoni failed to collect the delivery cleanly as Flintoff went on to make 36 more runs as England set a target of 313 for the home team, a target that India was never in danger of threatening. A batting collapse saw the team being dismissed for 100 and Dhoni scored just 5 runs and faced criticism for his wicket-keeping lapses as well as his shot selection. Dhoni behind the stumps On the in 2006, Dhoni scored a quick and aggressive 69 in the first Test. The rest of the series was unremarkable for Dhoni as he scored 99 runs in the remaining 6 innings but his wicket-keeping skills improved and he finished the series with 13 catches and 4.
In the Test series in South Africa later that year, Dhoni's scores of 34 and 47 were not sufficient to save the second Test against the Proteas, as India lost the series 2–1, squandering the chance to build on their first ever Test victory in South Africa (achieved in the first Test match). Dhoni's bruised hands ruled him out of the third Test match.
On the fourth day of the first Test match at, during, Dhoni's flick off to the midwicket region was caught. As the batsman started to walk back, captain Dravid declared the innings when confusion started as the umpires were not certain if the fielder stepped on the ropes and Dhoni stayed for the umpire's verdict. While the replays were inconclusive, the captain of the West Indies side, wanted Dhoni to walk off based on the fielder's assertion of the catch.
The impasse continued for more than 15 minutes and Lara's temper was on display with finger wagging against the umpires and snatching the ball from umpire. Ultimately, Dhoni walked off and Dravid's declaration was effected but the game was delayed, and Lara's action was criticised by the commentators and former players. Lara was summoned by the match referee to give an explanation of his actions but he was not fined. Dhoni scored two centuries in Sri Lanka's tour of India in 2009, a series of three matches in which he led India to a 2–0 victory.
With this feat, India soared up to the number one position in Test cricket for the first time in history. India scored 726–9 (decl) in the third match of this series, which was their highest Test total then. He played his last series in the 2014–15 season in captaining India in the second and third tests; losing the second and drawing the third, trailing the series 2–0 before the Sydney Test. Following the third Test in, Dhoni announced his retirement from the format. In his last Test, he effected nine dismissals (eight catches and a stumping), and in the process, went past in the record for with 134 (in all three formats combined).
He also set a record for effecting the most dismissals in a match by an until it was broken by in 2018. He finished his last innings unbeaten making 24 runs.
T20I career Dhoni was a part of India’s first ever Twenty20 international match. He made debut against South Africa in December 2006. He was out for a duck but India won the match.
He kept the wickets and effected one catch and a run out. On 18 February 2018, Dhoni created a new wicketkeeping record of having taken 134 catches in 275 T20Is against South Africa in the following the catch of, this record was previously held.
2007 T20 Worldcup Ms Dhoni was chosen to lead India in first ever World T20 in 2007. He made his captaincy debut against Scotland but the match was washed off. Thereon, he led India to the ICC World Twenty 20 trophy in South Africa, with a victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in an intensely fought final on 24 September 2007, and became the second Indian captain to have won a World Cup in any form of cricket, after. Captain of India. Dhoni captaining India in an ODI in February 2012 Dhoni was named the captain of Indian squad for the inaugural held in South Africa in September 2007. India were crowned champions as Dhoni led the team to victory against in a thrilling contest.
He went on to become the ODI captain of the Indian team for the seven-match ODI series against in September 2007. He made his debut as full-time Test captain of India during the fourth and final Test against Australia at Nagpur in November 2008, replacing who was injured in the third test and who then announced his retirement. Dhoni was vice-captain in this series up to that point. India eventually won that Test, thus clinching the series 2–0 and retained the. Dhoni had previously captained India on a stand-in basis against and Australia, in 2008 and 2009 respectively. It was under his captaincy that India climbed to No.
1 in the ICC Test Rankings in December 2009. After that, he managed to lead India in a series-levelling world championship of Tests against the South Africans in February 2010.
India also managed to draw the Test series 1–1 in South Africa later that year. After winning the final against Sri Lanka on 2 April 2011, with his match-winning knock of unbeaten 91, Tendulkar heaped praises on Dhoni, claiming him to be the best captain he has played under. Tendulkar mentioned that it was Dhoni's calm influence that was rubbing off on all his teammates and described Dhoni's handling of pressure as incredible. Only eleven players have captained ten or more Tests playing as a wicket-keeper. Dhoni leads the table with 60 Tests as captain, 35 ahead of in second place.
In March 2013, Dhoni became the most successful Indian Test captain when he eclipsed 's record of 21 victories from 49 Tests. Ganguly also said in an interview to a news channel that Dhoni is the all-time greatest captain of India and he has a great record to support this credential. In August 2016, Dhoni was selected as captain for India's first tour to the United States, where India played two T20Is against the West Indies in.
India lost the first match on 27 August 2016, during which Dhoni surpassed former Australian captain to become the most experienced captain in international cricket. Dhoni's final game as the Indian limited-overs captain was on 10 January 2017, in a warm-up game between England and India during the limited-overs leg of. Dhoni stated he will still fulfil his duties as the captain in various domestic teams.
Match bans As captain of the Indian cricket team, Dhoni has seldom been suspended due to his team's slow over rate. In December 2009, he was suspended for two ODI matches against Sri Lanka by ICC match referee as India was three overs short of the specified rate; acted as captain for the two matches in Cuttack and Kolkata.
In January 2012 Dhoni was banned for the fourth Test match against Australia in as India was two overs short during the third Test in. Sehwag captained the team in the and kept the wickets. In the CB Series in February, Dhoni again faced a one-match ban for slow-over rate against Australia.
World Cup Dhoni has captained India in two. Under his captaincy, India won the World Cup in 2011 and reached the semifinals in 2015. 2007 Cricket World Cup Dhoni played his first ODI World Cup in 2007 at the Caribbean.
India made an early exit from the tournament in the Group Stage. In, India was placed in Group B with, and. Captained the team in this World Cup.
In three matches India played, they managed to win only one against Bermuda while losing the rest from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. In their first match against Bangladesh, India was all out in just 191 in 49.3 overs. Dhoni was out for 0. He stumped, and captain in the match but, India lost by 5 wickets. In the next match against Bermuda, India posted the then Highest Score in the World Cup 413/5 in a must-win match. Dhoni scored 29 off 25 Balls which includes Two 4s and One 6.
India won the match by 257 runs. India was required to win their last group match against the Lankans, but they lost by 69 runs. Chasing the target of 255, India crumbled to 185 all out in 43.3 overs. Dhoni was dismissed for 0 for the second time in the tournament, off his very first ball. Thus, India was out of the world cup in the very first round. The Team was heavily criticized for their performance. Dhoni's under construction house in was attacked by some 200 fans after the Bangladesh loss.
2011 Cricket World Cup Under Dhoni's captaincy, India won the. In the against Sri Lanka, chasing 275, Dhoni promoted himself up the batting order, coming before an in-form.
When he came to bat, India needed more than six runs per over with three top order batsmen already dismissed. He started building a good partnership with. Due to good strokeplay and active running between wickets, they kept up with the required run rate. Dhoni was on 60 off 60 balls but later accelerated with a greater frequency of, ending with 91 not out off 79 balls. Befitting the occasion, he finished the match off in style with a huge six over long-on off bowler and won the Man of the Match award.
Later in the post-match presentation, he admitted that he came up the order so as to counter the spin threat, as he was very familiar with Murali's bowling, who was his teammate in the (IPL) franchise. He had come after the dismissal of, also a right-handed batsman. By partnering the left-handed Gambhir, he ensured a right-left combination at the crease that makes it difficult for bowlers to settle into a rhythm.
The bat used by Dhoni in the final match was sold for ₹ 72 Lac. The money goes to Sakshi Rawat Foundation, operated by Dhoni's wife Sakshi Rawat to help orphan children. 2015 Cricket World Cup For the held in and, Dhoni was named the captain of the 30-member squad by the BCCI in December 2014. Under his captaincy, India was able to go through to the semi-finals with ease, beating Bangladesh in the quarter-finals. However, they lost to host Australia in the semi-finals held at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The team won 7 consecutive matches in this world cup and won 11 consecutive matches overall in world cups. With the win against Bangladesh, he became the first non-Australian captain to win 100 ODI matches, and first Indian captain to achieve the mark. He is also the third captain to win 100 matches, after two Australians, and.
Indian Premier League. MS Dhoni in fielding practice Dhoni was contracted by the for 1.5 million USD. This made him the most expensive player in the for the first season auctions. Under his captaincy, Chennai Super Kings won the and titles and the and titles. After the suspension of CSK for two years, he was bought by for 1.9 Million USD in 2016, and was named captain.
However, his team finished in 7th place. In 2017, his team reached the final, where they lost to. In the, Chennai Super Kings returned to IPL and Dhoni was again selected to lead the franchise. Dhoni scored 455 runs in the tournament and led his side to their third IPL title. Playing style Dhoni is a right-handed and.
Initially, Dhoni appeared as a lower-order attacking batsman but he gradually changed his playing style to deal with high-pressure scenarios and his growing responsibility as a captain. He is a powerful hitter of the ball, and is one of the fastest men in running between the wickets.
Because of his explosive style of finished matches, he is nicknamed 'The Finisher'. His wicket-keeping skill is widely praised by cricket experts. He is quickest when it comes to stumpings.
He has a world record for the highest number of stumpings by any wicket-keeper. He is the main wicket-keeper in the team but he occasionally bowls as a medium fast bowler.
Personal life Dhoni married Sakshi Singh Rawat, his schoolmate in DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir, Shyamali. A native of, on 4 July 2010. At the time of their marriage, she was studying hotel management and was working as a trainee at the, Kolkata. After the retirement of Sakshi's father from his tea growing business, their family shifted to their native place, Dehradun. The wedding took place one day after the couple got engaged. According to Bollywood actress, a close friend of Dhoni, the wedding was planned for months and was not a spur of the moment decision.
Dhoni became a father on 6 February 2015 to a baby girl named Ziva. International records Test cricket. Under Dhoni's captaincy, India topped the Test cricket rankings for the first time, in 2009.
As captain, Dhoni holds the record for longest unbeaten run in Tests from his debut with 11 (8 wins and 3 draws) beating former Australian captain 's 10. In his streak, however, there was a period of injury in which led the side (for 3 draws). So India's unbeaten streak was for 14 tests, of which 11 were Dhoni's.
Dhoni is the first Indian wicket-keeper to complete 4,000 Test runs. Dhoni is the most successful Indian Test captain with 27 Test wins, eclipsing 's record of 21. Dhoni has the erratic distinction of an Indian captain with most Test defeats overseas with 15.
Dhoni's maiden century against Pakistan in (148) is the fastest century scored by an Indian wicket-keeper, and fourth overall. After hitting a six in third Test against England in, Dhoni completed 50 sixes as a captain, an Indian record. Dhoni shares the record for most dismissals in an innings (6, with Syed Kirmani) and in a match (9) by an Indian wicket-keeper. Dhoni, with 294 dismissals in his career, ranks first in the all-time dismissals list by Indian wicket-keepers.
Dhoni is the second wicket-keeper to have effected 6 dismissals in an innings apart from a fifty in each inning of a Test after Denis Lindsay of South Africa. Dhoni's 224 against Australia in is the third highest score by an Indian captain. En route to 224, Dhoni registered the highest Test score by an Indian wicket-keeper when he was on 193, beating 's 192. It was also the highest score by a wicket-keeper–captain beating Englishman 's 164.
See also:. Dhoni is the first non-Australian captain and third overall to win 100 games. Dhoni's 183 against Sri Lanka in 2005 is the highest score by a wicket-keeper. Dhoni has the fifth highest batting average (50.96), among cricketers with more than 5,000 runs and has the highest batting average among players with an aggregate of over 10,000 runs. It is also the highest among wicket-keepers.
Dhoni holds the records of the most dismissals in an innings (6) and career (357) by an Indian wicket-keeper. Dhoni's 113 against Pakistan in Chennai in 2012 is the highest by a captain batting at number 7. First Indian and fifth overall to hit 200 sixes in ODIs. Holds the record for playing the most number of matches in ODI history as captain who has also served as a wicketkeeper(199). Most career runs in ODI history when batting at number 6 position (3987). Most career hundreds in ODI cricket when batting at number 7 position or lower. (2).
Most number (120) of unbeaten knock in international cricket history. He surpassed who had remained not-out on 119 occasions.
Dhoni and were involved in a partnership of 100 not out which is India's highest eighth wicket partnership vs Sri Lanka in ODIs. Most unbeaten innings and highest average in successful ODI run-chases. First wicket-keeper in the world to effect in 100 ODI stumpings. First Indian wicket-keeper to take 300 ODI catches and fourth wicket keeper in the world to achieve the feat.
Fourth Indian to reach 10,000 ODI runs after, & and also the second wicketkeeper to reach the milestone and in fact became the only wicketkeeper batsman to have crossed 10,000th run with a career average of 50. Third fastest Indian to reach 10,000 ODI runs and also became the only player to cross 10,000 runs in ODI cricket with having a career average of over 50.
Captaincy record Dhoni is the only captain to win all ICC tournament cups- World T20 (2007), Cricket World Cup (2011) and Champions Trophy (2013). Main article: In February 2016, Dhoni launched lifestyle brand.
Dhoni owns the footwear side of the brand and is also the brand ambassador of SEVEN. Biographical film A biographical film based on the life of Dhoni, titled, was released on 30 September 2016. Endorsements Dhoni signed with Kolkata-based celebrity management company Gameplan Sports in April 2005. Currently Dhoni has 20 endorsements, only Shahrukh Khan has more (21). In 2007 Dhoni had 17 endorsements.
In July 2010, he tied up with Rhiti Sports Management and Mindscapes and was promised a minimum guarantee of Rs 210 crore over the following three years. The following is the list of endorsements signed by Dhoni:-. 2005:,. 2006:, Orient PSPO Fan,. 2007: Siyaram. 2008: Fashion at alongside Bollywood actress, Maha Choco,.
2009: Dabur Honey, Kolkata Fashion Week. Communications, Nova Scottia Premium shirts. 2010: Amrapali. 2016:. 2018: Sumadhura Group Awards. See also: Honorary awards and appreciations.: 2008, 2009.: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 (captain in 2009, 2011-2014).: 2009, 2010, 2013.
LG People's Choice Award: 2013., India's fourth-highest civilian award, in 2009., India's highest honor given for achievement in sports, 2007–08. Honorary doctorate degree by in August 2011., India's third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, 2018 Test cricket Man of the Match awards S No Series Season Match performance Result 1 2nd Test – Test Series 2008/09 1st Innings: 92 (124 balls, 8×4, 4x6); 1 Ct.; 1 st. 2nd Innings: 68. (84 balls, 3×4, 1x6); 1 ct. Won by 320 runs.
2 1st Test – Test Series 2012/13 1st Innings: 1 st.; 224 (265 balls, 24x4, 6x6) 2nd Innings: DNB won by 8 wickets. One-Day International cricket Man of the Series awards # Series Season Match performance Result 1 2013/14 346 runs (7 matches, 1×100, 1×50); 6 Ct. Won the series 6–1. 2 2007 127 runs (2 matches & 2 innings, 1×50); 1 Ct. Won the series 2–0.
3 2008/09 193 runs (5 matches, 2×50); 3 Ct. Won the series 3–2. 4 2009 182 runs (4 matches with avg. Of 91); 4 Ct. Won the series 2–1. 5 2011 236 runs (5 matches with an avg. Of 78.66, 3×50) won the series 3–0.
6 2011/12 212 runs (5 matches, 2×50 with 4 not outs) won the series 5–0. Man of the Match awards S No Opponent Venue Date Match performance Result 1, 5 April 2005 148 (123 balls, 15×4, 4×6); WK 2 Ct. Won by 58 runs. 2, 31 October 2005 183.
(145 balls, 15×4, 10×6); WK 1 Ct. Won by 6 wickets.
3, 13 February 2006 72 (46 balls, 12×4); WK 3 Ct. Won by 5 wickets.
4, 10 May 2007 91. (106 balls, 7×4); WK 1 St. Won by 5 wickets.
5, 10 June 2007 139. (97 balls, 15×4, 5×6); WK 3 St. Won by 13 runs.
6, 8 October 2007 50. (35 balls, 5×4 1×6); WK 2 St. Won by 8 runs.
7, 5 November 2007 63 (77 balls, 8x4); WK 1 St. Won by 5 wickets. 8, 3 July 2008 67 (62 balls, 5x4, 1x6); WK 2 Ct.
Won by 6 wickets. 9 24 August 2008 76 (80 balls, 8x4); WK 2 Ct. Won by 33 runs.
10, 3 March 2009 84. (89 balls, 6x4); WK 1 Ct. Won by 53 runs (D/L). 11, 3 July 2009 46. (34 balls, 2x4, 1x6); WK 2 Ct. Won by 6 wickets (D/L).
12, 28 October 2009 124 (107 balls, 9x4, 3x6); WK 1 Ct, 1 St. & 1 Runout won by 99 runs. 13, 7 January 2010 101. (107 balls, 9×4) won by 6 wickets. 14, 2 April 2011 91 (79 balls, 8x4, 2x6); 1 ct. Won World Cup by 6 wickets.
15, 14 October 2011 87. (70 balls, 10x4, 1x6); 1 Ct. Won by 126 runs.
16, 14 February 2012 58. (69 balls, 3x4, 1x6); 2 St. 17, 30 December 2012 113. (125 balls, 7x4, 3x6); 1 Ct. Won by 6 wickets. 18, 6 January 2013 36 (55 balls, 1x4, 3x6): 1 Ct. Won by 10 runs.
19, 11 July 2013 45. (52 balls, 5x4, 2x6); 1 Ct. Won by 1 wicket. 20, 14 October 2015 92. (86 balls, 7x4, 4x6); 3 Ct.
Won by 22 runs. 21, 30 June 2017 78.
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Retrieved 1 July 2017. External links Wikiquote has quotations related to: Wikimedia Commons has media related to. at CricketArchive (subscription required). at. 's profile page on Wisden Sporting positions Preceded by 2008–2014 Succeeded by Preceded by 2007–2016 Succeeded by Preceded by 2007–2016 Succeeded.
Pages: 195 Price: Rs 245 Last week, when Ravindra Jadeja bowled one that caught Imran Tahir in front of his stumps, his team mates were ecstatic. And Shikhar Dhawan, as is their wont, wore the widest grins they ever had on their faces. And the way clasped Jadeja, you could be forgiven if you thought you were watching an enactment of the Bible's story of the long-mourning father getting to embrace his repentant prodigal son. Even the normally phlegmatic Ravichandran Ashwin had a skip in his walk. And why wouldn't they be happy!
They had just beaten one of the favourites, South Africa, a prodigious challenge at any time, more so when India had been written off after a dispirited tour of Australia just days before the began. Amid the joyous huddle was Mahendra Singh Dhoni, smiling brightly.
Long used to an inscrutable face irrespective of whether his team had lost or won, fans got to see a wonderful TV frame of a happy captain with a happy team. Characteristically composed at the end of the match against AB de Villiers' team, he spoke as candidly, and as even-handedly, as he had done when India had pathetically lost the third of the four matches in the tri-series Down Under just a month earlier. No wonder he has become a legend in Indian cricket as the unflappable stalwart, even accorded the trite appellation of 'Captain Cool'. 'Is the calmness real or simply an approach which he has consciously adapted to make sure that the players could give their best irrespective of the situation the team was in?' Asks in his latest biography, MSD: The Man, The Leader. If I read a book on Dhoni, I would definitely want to find the answer to the question.
But this is not the first book on the Indian captain that fails to provide a revelatory look into his mind. There have been other that have trodden the same route: first, a few interviews with the wicketkeeper-batsman's relatives, his childhood friends, his school coach and, to give the man his due for having helped India find a hero, Paramjit Singh, the owner of a small sports shop in Ranchi who helped Dhoni both with money and kit in times of necessity; then, extensive discussions of matches with most of the adjectives employed being superlatives; and ultimately a narrative that depends on the faux psychology that locates modern Indian cricket in small-town Bharat. What the reader misses in such an approach is an insightful look at a performer who is a true phenomenon given the unpromising circumstances of his birth in a poor family in a state that is not known for encouraging cricket. And amid all this, my grouse with Ghosh's book, as with the others on Dhoni, is that this has been written without a single interaction with the cricketer himself. There isn't much in the book that one hasn't already read about except perhaps the revelation that it was Sachin Tendulkar who, when approached by Sharad Pawar, then president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, to lead India after Rahul Dravid stepped down in 2007, proposed Dhoni's name for the job. Dhoni was duly appointed captain and, as the cricketing gods would have it, led India to the first Twenty20 in South Africa, the first in what was to become a handsome career as India's skipper. As captain, his unusual ploys (who can forget his using Joginder Sharma to bowl the last crucial over to win the Twenty20 or promoting himself over Yuvraj Singh in the 2011 World Cup?) have been both applauded as well as flayed.
The book carries a quote from Sourav Ganguly, arguably India's sharpest purveyor of the art of captaincy, that seems to me the best insight into the way Dhoni looks at captaincy and why he has succeeded as well as failed. 'Captaincy is a spark, it's not just preparation or the homework, it's about the spark on the field, which MS (Dhoni) has. He's got that extra bit of luck you require in captaincy. I have never believed too much in the drawing board.
I see a lot of that in MS Dhoni. He doesn't believe in team meetings and all. He just does what he sees on the field.' If the author had dwelt on Ganguly's views, he might have seen Dhoni for what he is: a man who leads by intuition that is sharpened by the events on the field, not someone who creates scenarios off the field for extension to the theatre of action later. Exercising captaincy in this manner requires a bit of luck, which Dhoni, without taking away from his talent, has got aplenty.
It could also explain his famed 'cool' attitude - if you do not have Plan A or Plan B meticulously worked out to ensure victory, failure wouldn't frustrate you so much. Not that Dhoni is complacent about defeat. His backstory tells you of his fierce determination to win at all costs, even in an occasional badminton match. But as he explained his role as captain to Wisden India: 'The captain decides on something but it is somebody else who has to fulfil the job. You try to read the game and decide something.
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If it doesn't work, you stand up and take the responsibility because that's what your job needs you to do.' Dhoni wasn't a man made for the mike, the book claims, and he was painfully shy of speaking in public before captaincy demanded it of him.
He used to have his hair done in a comically named Manly Beauty Parlour in Ranchi. Chased by women, he often gave them his brother-in-law's phone number, leaving a bemused relative fielding amorous calls. But such cues to his life are few and far between. And I wish the book had had an editor with a firmer finger on the delete key.
Everyone talks about MS Dhoni's meteoric rise but few have spent time cataloguing his journey as painstakingly as veteran sports journalist Gulu Ezekiel. The 2013 updated version of his book Captain Cool: The MS Dhoni Story is a must-have for die-hard fans of Dhoni and Indian cricket. The book does not have any narrative as such, and, instead, reads like a long, insightful match report. It is one man's full-throttle journey from obscurity to international stardom.
The book is at its strongest at the start. Ezekiel has used his extensive network of contacts in the world of cricket, including former players, coaches and administrators, to highlight Dhoni's humble Ranchi roots like no one else. The first two chapters, 'Early Years' and 'First Class Cricket', give a great insight into the kinds of challenges Dhoni faced while growing up: He wasn't a natural like Sachin Tendulkar; he was rejected by the Railways Ranji Trophy team; playing for a small Ranji side like Bihar wasn't easy either, and the 2001-02 season was an 'unmitigated disaster'.
Ezekiel makes us realise what it means to slog it out in cricket's dusty domestic circuit. Statistician Mohandas Menon adds a lot of value, especially with Dhoni's batting figures when he played for Bihar, Jharkhand and East Zone. The book is peppered with interesting nuggets like this one: Dhoni developed a unique technique by playing with a tennis ball on 18-yard pitches in Kharagpur, where he moved in 2001 for his first job as a railway ticket collector. On these pitches, bowlers consistently bowled yorkers and Dhoni had to learn to use his shoulders and forearms to dig the ball out-a skill that helps him today.
What is most enjoyable is viewing cricket through the prism of a wicket keeper. We are so used to stats about batting averages and wickets, but what about stumpings and catches? Ezekiel writes, for example, 'Dhoni must have been disappointed not to have taken a catch, or made a stumping on his ODI debut, but at least he did not concede a bye.' It's not a book for all cricket or sports fans though, and certainly not for casual readers. In essence it is a linear, largely repetitive archive of one man's cricket record.
Granted, the man has a sensational story and the records are extraordinary, but for those who have watched his career blossom since he made it big, the second part of the book-a blow-by-blow account of his recent matches-is fairly drab. This is the kind of book that will be immensely interesting to read 20 years down the line, when we want in-depth reporting on internal team dynamics and Dhoni's fielding changes in crunch games. The photographs are lacklustre. The one of him in his Ranchi school team and him riding his motorcycle around the field at Faridabad are the only ones I'll remember. The rest are things you'll find in a Google search. The stats that make up the appendix are largely irrelevant-since they change with every match, and will continue to do so till Dhoni retires-and more accessible online.
The book does not conclude with any analysis of what keeps Dhoni cool under pressure, which is disappointing given the book's title. Instead, it explores the challenges of bearing the triple responsibility of being a specialist batsman, wicket keeper and captain.
Pages: 240 Price: Rs 137 Ever since he made his international debut in 2004 and went on to become a hugely popular cricketer — even surpassing the likes of Sachin Tendulkar in popularity charts — the story of Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been known to all those who follow the sport. He's the man who has made Ranchi a world-famous name through his exploits on the field, the man who is the only captain to lift all the three world titles — the 50-over World Cup, the World T20 and Champions Trophy — the man who has made some unthinkable decisions on the field, some of which have succeeded while some others have not there is nothing that is unknown about Dhoni's public life.
The 240-page MSD: The Man, The Leader is Pune-based freelance writer and columnist Biswadeep Ghosh's first attempt at a sports book – he has previously written biographies of actors and two books of fiction for young adults. It is a well-tried effort to chronicle the life story of Ranchi's most famous son from his school days through to his days in Kharagpur, where he was recruited by South Eastern Railway on sports quota, and to his retirement from Tests in 2014 end. But the book leaves a lot to be desired.
Ghosh has interviewed those who have known Dhoni from his childhood days, including his coaches and teammates. He also writes that almost everyone in Ranchi seems to know a lot about Dhoni. 'If one were to trust self-indulgent myth-weavers in Ranchi, the cricketer owns anything between five hundred and one thousand bikes, the number depending on how big a liar one is talking to,' Ghosh writes. A majority of the book has extracts from various publications and match-reports that gives one a feeling that this book is nothing but a compilation of newspaper clippings in a small, bound form that you could carry in your pocket. The book has covered almost all the international series that Dhoni has played in, summarising his performances and supporting them by the captain's post-match quotes, something that is routine for journalists filing copies at the end of each day's play. This being a biography, one would have wished to read beyond mundane match reports that are available on the internet.
What is unknown about Dhoni continues to remain unknown. While reams and reams have been written about Dhoni, the captain cool, the book does not say how he has managed to stay calm in tense situations; especially as Dhoni rarely gives media interviews and one can generally hear him only during the mandatory captain's press conferences before and after matches. What we all want to know is how the mind of MSD works, what goes into the thought processes that make him take some unimaginable decisions, catching everyone off guard. These are missing from the book.
While Dhoni has stayed controversy-free throughout his career, Ghosh has played it safe by not going deep into the IPL spot-fixing case that dragged the cricketer's name as captain of Chennai Super Kings. The book ends up as one more on Dhoni, who has had humble beginnings ('The room that was given to him did not have any attached toilet. Hence Dhoni had to use a common one. He bathed in the open by standing next to a wall') and went on to become one of the richest sportspersons in the world.