MS Dhoni Success Story: From Ticket Collector to Indian International Cricketer

Here is the success story of MS Dhoni: from Ticket Collector to Indian International Cricketer.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni was born to a very humble background. He comes from a family of 5. MS Dhoni is one name that no one is unaware of.

MS Dhoni’s life journey had not been an easy one. Nonetheless, his struggle towards the world of successful international cricket career can definitely inspire any budding cricket fan.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni inspirational success story will never forget to mention this particular fact no matter what.

Who is MS Dhoni?

MS Dhoni, full name Mahendra Singh Dhoni is an Indian International cricketer. He was the captain of Indian National team in limited over formats from 2007 to 2016 and in test cricket from 2008 to 2014.

M. S. Dhoni is the only captain who wins all ICC trophies. India won 2007 ICC World Twenty 20, Asia cup in 2010 and 2016, 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and 2013 ICC Champions Trophy under his captaincy.

He is a right-handed middle-order batsman and wicket-kipper. Dhoni is one of the highest run scorers in One Day Internationals (ODI) with more than 10,000 runs.

He considered an effective ‘finisher’ in limited-over matches. He is one of the best wicket-kippers and captains in limited-overs international cricket.

He made his ODI debut in 2004 against Bangladesh, even during same year he played his first test against Sri Lanka. Many awards like ICC ODI Player of the year award honoured him in 2008 and 2009; he was the first player to win the award twice.

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award awarded him in 2007. In 2009, he was awarded by India’s fourth-highest civilian honour Padma Shri. In 2018, he was honoured by India’s third highest civilian honour Padma Bhushan.

He was named as the captain of the ICC World Test XI 1009, 2010 and 20013. For 8 times he has been selected in ICC World ODI XI, from that 5 times as a captain.

The Indian Territorial Army gave the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel to him on 1st November 2011. Only Kapil Dev was the cricketer to receive this honour.

He led the team series wins in New Zealand and West Indies after 2008. In 2009, he led Indian team for the first time to number one position in ICC Test rankings.

India became the first team in more than 40 years to whitewash Australia in test series under his captaincy in 2013. In the Indian Premier League, he was the captain of Chennai Super Kings and they won the trophy three times in 2010, 2011, and 2018.

Dhoni was included as one of the “Most Influential People” in Time Magazine. After releasing from Air India, he holds the post of Vice-President of India Cement Ltd.

He announced his retirement from Tests on 30th December 2014. In 2012, Dhoni rated 16th most marketable athlete in world as per Sports Pro.

Dhoni is the co-owner of the Indian Super League team. During 2015 Dhoni was ranked 23rd in the list of highest paid athletes in the world, His earning was around 31 million US$.

Early life and background of MS Dhoni:

Dhoni was born on 7th July 1981 in Ranchi, Bihar (now in Jharkhand). He is a Hindu Rajput. His parents moved from Uttarakhand to Ranchi.

His father Pan sing was working in MECON. He has one sister Jayanti and brother Narendra. He is having nicknames like, Mahi, Captain Cool, MSD, Thala.

He is a fan of Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar and Adam Gilchrist. At his school at Ranchi he initially excelled in badminton and football.

He was selected at district and club level for that. He was a goalkeeper for his team, but his coach sent him to play cricket for a local cricket club.

He became regular wicket keeper at commando cricket club during 1995-1998. He was picked for Vinod Mankad Trophy Under-16 championship.

After 10th standard, he focused on cricket. He was Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) at Kharagpur railway station from 2001 to 2003.

Personal life of MS Dhoni:

Dhoni married his schoolmate, Sakshi Rawal on 4th July 2010. At the time of their marriage, Sakshi was studying hotel management.

She was working as a trainee at Taj Bengal, Kolkata. He became a father to a baby girl named Ziva on 6 February 2015. At the time of her birth, Dhoni was at Australia with Indian team for 2015 cricket world cup.

At that time, he decided not to travel back to India. At that time he quoted “I am on national duty, other things can wait”

Jounior Cricket in Bihar:

In 1998, when Dhoni was in 12th standard, he was selected to play for Central Coal Fields Limited (CCL) team by Deval Sahay. At that time Deval Sahay used to pay 50 Rs. for each six.

He impressed by his dedication and hard-hitting shots. He used his contacts to push Dhoni in Bihar team. Dhoni was included in Bihar U-19 squad during 1998-99.

Jharkhand cricket team:

Dhoni hit three half centuries in Ranji Trophy and a couple of half centuries in Deodhar Trophy during 2002-03 season. During the season2003-04, he scored 128* against Assam in the first match of Ranji ODI tournament.

During Deodhar Trophy 2003-04 season, he made 244 runs in 4 matches. Dhoni’s talent was discovered by the BCCI’s small town spotting initiative. Dhoni was discovered by TRDO Prakash Poddar.

India A-team:

Dhoni was recognised for his efforts in One-Day format in 2003-04, and was picked for a tour of Zimbabwe and Kenya. Against Zimbabwe, he picked seven catches and four stumping.

He scored 362 runs in 6 innings and his performance received attention from Sourav Ganguly and Ravi Shastri.

ODI career:

Start of ODI career:

Dhoni was picked as wicket keeper in ODI squad for Bangladesh tour against Bangladesh in 2004-05. He did not have a good start at that time. It was an average series against Bangladesh, and then was picked for Pakistan ODI series.

Start of “Dhoni” era:

For his fifth one-day international, Dhoni scored 148 runs in only 123 deliveries at Vishakhapatnam. That was the record that a Indian wicket keeper for highest score.

He was promoted to no.3 in the third ODI at Jaipur. Dhoni ended the game with 183 runs in 145 balls and won the game for India. That inning was described as ‘Uninhibited, yet anything but crude’ in Wisden Almanak (2006).

That inning set records including highest individual score in ODI for second inning and Dhoni got Man of the Series for his efforts. BCCI rewarded him a B-Grade contract.

India scored 328 in 50 overs with Dhoni’s 68 in his first match against Pakistan in 2006. However, team lost that match due to Duckworth-Lewis method.

In the third match of the same series, dhoni scored 77 runs with 13 boundaries and help India to take 2-1, lead in the series. As result, he overtook Ricky Ponting as no.1 in the ICC ODI Rankings for batsmen in 2006. He became fastest batsmen in 42 innings.

2007 World Cup:

India recorded identical 3-1 victories over Wast Indies and Sri Lanka and in both series; Dhoni had averages in excess of 100. For his performance, Dhoni was declared the Man of the Match.

He had a good Afro-Asia cup scoring 174 runs in three matches. He was named vice-captain for the series against South Africa. He was declared ad the captain of Indian team for twety20 World cup in 2007.

Rise through ranks:

In 2009, during India Australia series, Dhoni hit 124 runs in 107 balls in 2ndODI and made 71 runs in95 balls with Yuvraj Sing in 3rd ODI.

He took his first wicket in international cricket on 30th September 2009. He topped ICC ODI Batsman ranking in 2009. He scored 1198 runs in just 24 innings in 2009. He named as captain and wicket keeper of the world ODI XI by the ICC.

Post 2011 World Cup:

During 2012, when Pakistan toured India, Dhoni scored top for India in all three innings. After winning the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, Dhoni became the first and only captain in international cricket to claim all ICC trophies.

In November 2013, Dhoni scored aggregate 1,000 or more ODI runs and became the second batsman after Sachin Tendulkar.

2015 World Cup:

During 2015 Cricket World Cup, Dhoni became the first Indian Captain who wins all group stages matches in a tournament. India wins against Pakistan, South Africa, UAE, Ireland, Zimbabwe and West Indies.

After beating Bangladesh in the quarter finals, he became the first non-Australian captain to win 100 ODI matches.

Stepping down as captain and thereafter:

In January 2017, Dhoni stepped down as Indian captain in the limited over formats. At 2017 Champions Trophy, he was named as wicket keeper of the “Team of the Tournament”.

Even he was named in the ODI XI of the year. I 2017 August he became the first wicket keeper 100 stumping. He reached the milestone of 400 dismissals in ODI in February 2018.

He made 10,000 ODI runs in the second ODI against England during 2018 tour; he became 4th Indian and 12th overall to do this. In April 2019, Dhoni was named in Indian team for 2019 Cricket World Cup. He played his 350th ODI against New Zealand in July 2019.

Test career:

In 2005, Dhoni replaced Dinesh Karthik as ‘Test Wicket Keeper’ in Indian team. He scored 30 runs in his debut match. During India’s tour in Pakistan in 2006 January-February, he scored maiden century.

On the West Indies tour, he scored quick 69 runs but the rest of the series was unremarkable, he finished series with 13 catches and 4 stumping. Dhoni scored 2 centuries in Sri Lanka’s tour.

In that, he led India to win in three matches series by 2-0. With that for the first time, India soared up to the number one position. India scored 726-9 (decl) in third match of this series.

He played his last series in 2014-15 during India’s tour to Australia as a captain. Dhoni announced his retirement from the format. He took 8 catches and a stumping in last test, even he finished his last inning with 24 runs.

T20 career:

Dhoni was the part of India’s first twenty20 international. The ICC named him as captain and wicket keeper of the ‘Team of the Tournament’ for the 2014 T20 World Cup.

He was chosen to lead India in first World T20 in 2007. He led India to the ICC World T20 trophy in South Africa and won against Pakistan in final on 24th September 2007. He became second Indian captain to won a world cup in any form of cricket after Kapil Dev.

Captain of India:

In 2007, Dhoni was named as the captain of Indian team for the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 held in South Africa. MS Dhoni led the Indian team to victory against Pakistan in a thrilling contest.

After that, he became ODI captain against Australia in 2007. He became test captain of India in November when Anil Kumble was injured.

India won that test by 2-0. He led India on a stand-in basis against South Africa and Australia in 2008 and 2009. India climbed to No.1 in the ICC Test Ranking in December 2009 under Dhoni’s captaincy.

India won ICC Cricket against Sri Lanka in 2011. In March 2013, Dhoni became the most successful Indian captain when he eclipsed Saurav Ganguly’s record of 21 victories in 49 tests.

Ganguly said that Dhoni is the all-time greatest captain of the India. India won ICC Champions Trophy in July 2013 under Dhoni’s captaincy. Dhoni was selected as the captain for India’s first tour to US in August 2016.

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World Cup:

Dhoni played his first ODI World Cup in 2007 at the Caribbean in that India made an early exit from the tournament in the Group Stage.

India won the 2011 World Cup under Dhoni’s captaincy. In that world cup the bat, which Dhoni used, was sold for 72 lac, the money goes to Sakshi Rawat foundation, and Dhoni’s wife Sakshi to help orphan children operates this foundation.

In 2015 world cup under Dhoni’s captaincy, India was able to go through to the semi-finals. Dhoni was named in 15-man squad for 2019 World Cup in England and Wales.

Indian Premier League:

The Chennai Super Kings contracted Dhoni for US$1.5 million. He was the most expensive player in the IPL for the first season auctions.

Chennai Super Kings won 2010, 2011, and 2018 Indian Premier League titles and the 2010 and 2014 Champions League T20 titles under Dhoni’s captaincy.

Biographical film: MS Dhoni: The Untold Story

A biographical film based on Dhoni’s life, from his childhood to the 2011 Cricket World Cup, titled M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, was released on 30 September 2016, stared Sushant Singh Rajput, Disha Patani, and Kiara Advani.

National honours & achievements of MS Dhoni:

• Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna – 2007−08
• ICC ODI Player of the Year – 2008, 2009
• Padma Shri Award – 2009
• ICC World ODI XI – 2010, 2011
• Honorary doctorate degree – 2011
• Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year – 2011
• ICC World Test XI – 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014
• Padma Bhushan Award – 2018