Wicketkeeper, captain and the calmest head in the last over. Three ICC trophies, five IPL titles.
Photo: ATHUU STUMP
Dhoni worked as a ticket collector at Kharagpur railway station before reaching the India team in 2004. He arrived as a big-hitting keeper and went on to become India's most successful white-ball captain.
His method: stay calm, trust the process, take the chase deep.
His way of closing a game, in four steps.
Study the pitch, the bowlers and the required rate before anything else.
No panic, no wasted shots. Let the pressure sit on the other side.
Keep the target within reach, ball after ball, until the last over.
Pick the moment, clear the rope, and close the game out.
An ODI average above 50 comes from finishing games.
International career, 2004 to 2020.
Figures as of his international retirement in August 2020. Verify on ESPNcricinfo before publishing.
The moments that built the legend, for India and for CSK.
ODI debut against Bangladesh in December. Test debut follows in 2005, T20I debut in 2006.
A chase against Sri Lanka that is still the highest ODI score by a wicketkeeper.
He leads a young side to the first World T20 title, beating Pakistan in the final.
Captain of the Chennai Super Kings from the first IPL season. CSK reach the final but lose to Rajasthan Royals off the last ball.
CSK beat Mumbai Indians by 22 runs for their first IPL crown, then beat the Warriors in Johannesburg to win the Champions League T20.
An unbeaten 91 in the final against Sri Lanka, finished with a six. India’s first World Cup since 1983.
CSK beat Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final at home and keep the IPL title for a second year.
India win in England, completing a set no other captain has: World T20, World Cup and Champions Trophy.
CSK beat Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets in the final of the last Champions League T20.
Retires from Tests in December 2014, leaves limited-overs captaincy in January 2017, and retires from international cricket on 15 August 2020.
After a two-year suspension, CSK return and win their third IPL title.
A fourth IPL title for CSK, won in the UAE.
A fifth IPL title, won on the last ball of the final. The yellow story goes on.
Hands that never missed, and a mind that never panicked.
A batter lifted a heel for a split second and the bails were already off. Spinners planned whole overs around that threat.
World T20 2016, Bengaluru. Bangladesh needed two off the last ball. Dhoni threw off a glove, ran to the stumps and won it by one run.
Fans joked that DRS stood for his name, because his instinct for when to ask for a review was so sharp.
The 2007 bowl-out with part-time bowlers, the last over to Joginder Sharma, and promoting himself above Yuvraj in the 2011 final.
He made Rohit Sharma an opener, and gave Kohli, Raina, Ashwin, Jadeja and Bumrah long runs in the side.
Winning or losing, his face looked the same. Teams played without panic because he showed none.
Silverware as captain.
2007, South Africa
2011, India
2013, England
Chennai Super Kings: 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023
2010 and 2014 with Chennai Super Kings
India topped the ICC Test rankings in 2009
The nights that built a legend, and the words that went with them.
India win the first World T20.ICC World Twenty20 final, Johannesburg, 24 September 2007
A young side, a new captain and a five-run win over Pakistan. It was the start of the Dhoni era.
The mace goes to the best Test team in the world.ICC Test Championship Mace
India topped the ICC Test rankings in December 2009 under his captaincy, a first for the country.
Chennai’s first IPL title.IPL 2010 final, Mumbai Indians beaten by 22 runs
CSK beat Mumbai Indians by 22 runs for their first IPL title. Later that year they beat the Warriors in Johannesburg to become the first IPL team to win the Champions League T20.
“Dhoni finishes off in style.”Ravi Shastri, on commentary, World Cup final
An unbeaten 91 and the winning six at Wankhede on 2 April 2011. India’s first World Cup win in 28 years.
Chennai keep the crown.IPL 2011 final, Chennai
CSK beat Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final at their home ground to win a second straight IPL title.
The last Champions League belonged to Chennai.CLT20 2014 final, Chennai Super Kings v Kolkata Knight Riders
CSK beat Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets to win their second Champions League T20 title, in what turned out to be the last edition.
Home again, and champions again.IPL 2018, Chennai Super Kings
CSK returned after a two-year suspension and won their third title with Dhoni leading the side.
“From 1929 hrs consider me as Retired.”MS Dhoni, Instagram, 15 August 2020
A short post and a video of his career ended his international cricket. The time he named was 7:29 pm.
The yellow army were champions again.IPL 2021 final, Chennai Super Kings
CSK beat Kolkata Knight Riders in the final in Dubai to win their fourth title, a year after missing the playoffs for the first time.
“The easy thing for me to say is thank you and retire.”MS Dhoni, after the IPL 2023 final
On 29 May 2023 in Ahmedabad, Ravindra Jadeja hit a six and a four off the last two balls to win CSK a fifth title. Dhoni said he would try to return for another season.
More to come.The yellow story goes on
The latest chapter is still being written. Come back soon, because the best finishes are saved for last.
To be continuedCaptain of the Chennai Super Kings from the first season in 2008.
He might have left playing for India, but not for CSK. The legacy is still going on. He hasn’t left.#telugumsdian
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Why he mattered, in a few minutes of reading.
He rarely raised his voice, and rarely needed to. His teams played without panic because he showed none.
He backed young players through poor runs, kept plans simple, and decided late, with the full picture in front of him.
He went deep in chases, kept the rate in range, then used power only when needed.
An ODI average above 50, helped by many not outs, shows a batter who valued the win over his own score.
With 829 international dismissals, he was also among the quickest stumpers the game has seen.
195 of those were stumpings, many from batters who only lifted a heel.
To the man who taught a generation that calm is a superpower. From the streets of Ranchi to the stands of Chepauk, you gave us nights we will never forget.
Thank you for every finish, every smile and every moment of Thala magic. Thank you, Mahi.
#telugumsdian