The timing, 7:29 PM on India’s Independence Day, could not have been more symbolic. Alongside his long-time teammate and friend Suresh Raina, Dhoni drew the curtain on an international career that not only redefined Indian cricket but also transformed its global image
MS Dhoni (Pic: PTI)
Five years ago on August 15, the cricketing world came to a standstill as MS Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket. A quiet farewell came not through a grand press conference, but via a simple Instagram post that read: “Thanks a lot for your support throughout. From 1929 hrs consider me as Retired.”
The timing, 7:29 PM on India’s Independence Day, could not have been more symbolic. Alongside his long-time teammate and friend Suresh Raina, Dhoni drew the curtain on an international career that not only redefined Indian cricket but also transformed its global image.
MS Dhoni: One name, a million memories! 💫
— ICC (@ICC) August 15, 2020
What's your favourite memory of the former India skipper? pic.twitter.com/sszLHobegw
From a small-town boy in Ranchi to becoming one of the most successful captains in cricket history, Dhoni’s rise was meteoric.
Calm under pressure, fiercely intelligent, and unorthodox in approach, ‘Captain Cool’ embodied a new era of leadership. His achievements speak volumes: leading India to the inaugural T20 World Cup title in 2007, ending a 28-year drought with the 2011 ODI World Cup triumph, and clinching the 2013 Champions Trophy under intense scrutiny, making him the only captain to win all three major ICC trophies.
Statistically, Dhoni's career is equally staggering. In 538 international matches, he scored 17,266 runs and effected 829 dismissals as a wicketkeeper. His Test career, which ended quietly after the Boxing Day Test against Australia in 2014, included 90 appearances, 4,876 runs, six centuries, and a highest score of 224.
Yet, it was in ODIs where Dhoni truly cemented his legacy. Across 350 matches, he amassed 10,773 runs at a formidable average of 50.57, including 10 centuries and 73 fifties. His unbeaten 183 against Sri Lanka remains one of the finest innings ever played in the format.
In T20 Internationals, Dhoni featured in 98 games, scoring 1,617 runs at an average of 37.60 and a strike rate of 126.13, with a top score of 56.
Even after stepping away from international cricket, Dhoni has remained an integral figure in the game, continuing to lead the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League with trademark composure and tactical brilliance.
At 44, Dhoni stands not only as a symbol of success but as a revolutionary who changed the face of Indian cricket.
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