M.S DHONI : THE CAPTAIN WITH ALL ICC TITLES

 

This is a story about a small town boy from Ranchi who started his journey as a football keeper and how he reached the top of the cricket world, placed in a beloved position in every Indians heart.Mahendra Singh Dhoni was born in a small village in Bihar on 7th of July 1981.His family was a middle class family, but Dhoni always had bigger dreams.His idols was Adam Gilchrist,Sachin Tendulkar and Amitabh Bachan.He always wanted to be a well known sports person.At first he was interested in football and he was an excellent goalkeeper, watching his goalkeeper skills his coach sent him to a local cricket club to play.From that moment his incredible journey begins.A small town boy to the captain with all ICC titles.

A boy with no previous experience in cricket amazed the spectators with his batting and wicket keeping skills.Later he was appointed as the wicketkeeper of that cricket club.After getting the rhythm he concentrated more in cricket and left his renowned days of football.It was a substantial change in his life he started to take professional coaching after finishing his secondary school of education.He was also a multifaceted student and teachers respected him for his impeccable nature.He used to manage his studies and sports sessions perfectly. His family was very supportive of his dreams.When he was just 18 years old he debuted in Ranji Trophy for Bihar Cricket Team.His exceptional skills impressed Indain team selectors.His contribution helped Bihar Cricket team to clinch Duleep and Deodhar trophy.

As days passed he joined the Indian Railway as train ticket examiner.Everything was going fine until then,after getting a government job his family thought it will be a risk for him if he continuous to concentrate in cricket.He was in immense pressure which was put up by his family, gradually he choose cricket as his career and left the government job, still the decision he made is considered as a golden one.He eventually become a master in cricketing skills.It was just the beginning, the greatest cricketer India has ever seen was in the making, who knew he will become the captain with all ICC titles.

His tremendous performance against pakistan and sri lanka made him favourite to the whole nation.Every Indian identified him as the powerful hitter of ball with an unorthodox style.The long hair style had become a trend back in those days.Every bowler of every nation was afraid of this boy with long hair, he started to destruct every bowlers in his own style.Later he became the captain of Indian Cricket Team from that change the golden era of Indian Cricket Team was about to start.

Without enough experience in captaincy he still managed the team to win the inaugural 2007 ICC World Twenty20, from there team India was titled the champions numerous times under Dhoni’s captaincy. Later under his captaincy team India was able to win the world cup in 2011 after 28 years of waiting, still watching the typical dhoni style finishing in world cup gives us goosebumps.His calm and cool attitude towards every tough situation during games gave him the name “captain cool”.This attitude towards the game helped him bag many trophies and titles including the 2013 champions trophy.This made Dhoni the captain with all ICC titles.Under Dhoni's captaincy, India topped the Test cricket rankings for the first time, in 2009.

Dhoni was also a wizard in wicket keeping and batting.He also holds several records in this field.Even though he was a middle order batsmen with his destructive batting style he managed to top the ICC Batsmen Ranking for a long time.Dhoni was more dangerous when it comes in the case of finishing a game.After grabbing some impossible wins by his finishes the nickname “THE FINISHER” was given to him.Dhoni was also a genius behind the stumps, he holds the world record for fastest stumping with a timing of 0.08 seconds.Every batsman will have a second thought of stepping down if Dhoni is behind the stump.He was also the first wicket-keeper to effect 100 stumpings in ODI cricket.He has a world record for the highest number of stumpings by any wicket-keeper.It’s not just luck it’s also his immense efforts he put up to became the most celebrated captain with all icc titles.Even in his recent games he produced some fireworks with his bat.

Dhoni has also led Chennai Super Kings in IPL, with his bewildering captaincy skills CSK was able to win the title 3 times and also the champions trophy title 2 times.CSK is still considered as the most dangerous team in IPL as they were qualified to the playoffs 8 times in a row.With better team players and a captain like Dhoni CSK was raging to the qualifiers every time.For a captain with all icc titles IPL trophy was just a piece of candy.

He continued to conquer the cricket world with his skills.

Now let’s have a look at some of his achievements and awards :

National Honours

• Padma Bhushan In 2018.(India’s 3rd highest civilian rank.)

• Padma Shri In 2009.(India’s 4th highest civilian rank.)

• Raji Gandhi Khel Ratna In 2008 .(India's highest honor given for achievement in sports.)

Sporting Honours

• ICC ODI player of the year. (2008 and 2009.)

• ICC World ODI XI(2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 ) (captain in 2009, 2011–2014)

• ICC WORLD Test XI (2009,2010,2013)

• ICC MEN’S ODI TEAM OF THE DECADE=2011-2020 (CAPTAIN AND WICKET KEEPER)

• ICC MEN’S T20I TEAM OF THE DECADE=2011-2020 (CAPTAIN AND WICKET KEEPER)

• ICC SPIRIT OF THE CRICKET AWARD (2011-2020)

OTHERS

• MTV Youth Icon Of The Year 2006

• LG People’s Choice Award 2013

• Honorary doctorate degree by De Montfort University 

Dhoni is a man of pure talent and hardwork with his pure skills he created a new Indian team which is capable of destroying any other team they are facing.Although he was the only captain with all icc titles Dhoni stepped down from captaincy in January 2017 and handed over the reigns to Virat Kohli.Even after he stepped down he was still an active presence in Indian team,he supported every newcomers to the team interacted with them as a friend as that was his routine.He given advices to the team captain while in pressure situations and also provided results with the bat.

The most heartbreaking scenario for Dhoni fans took place at the 2019 World cup semi-finals,poetically saying on that day India lost by inches,dhoni was dismissed through a run out.Even when the proclaimed batsmen returned to the dugout early all the hopes was on Dhoni,the direct throw to the stumps by Martin Guptill shattered every Indians dreams.The scene of Dhoni with an eyes full of tears at the presentation program can’t be easily erased from every Indians mind.That was Dhoni’s last world cup,losing the cup on the edge was heartbreaking for him.Days after on Independence Day 2020 Dhoni announced his retirement through a tweet.The most celebrated Indian Sports personality the captain with all icc titles left the stage without creating a fuzz.Every DHoni fans were shocked by his tweet,some considered it as a prank,but the reality was not in favour of them.The best captain,wicket keeper,finisher left the game without even having a send off match.

Even after his retirement from international cricket he continued as the captain of Chennai Super KIngs,there is an old saying which goes “Once A King  Always A King”.Dhoni pursued the game with his immense skill,thrashed the bowlers everywhere,surprised every batsmen with his lightning fast stumping,lead the team to victory with his captaincy skills.CSK is in 2nd position of the current IPL points table,every Dhoni fans are eagerly waiting for Dhoni to lift the IPL 2021 cup for the one last time,another triumph to the captain with all icc titles.The Indian team management is struggling to find a replacement for him,although there are some better players, no one can replace this invincible mogul of Indian Cricket,it’s not easy to get another Dhoni,he is a legend and will always remain as one.”Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout. from 1929 hrs consider me as Retired” (The retirement tweet from Dhoni).Legends never really retire, they only inspire.His whole life journey was an inspiration to a lot,he shown the world how a small town boy can conquer the world,no matter what your background is, if you try hard and follow your dreams you will succeed one day.Don’t hear what others say, believe in yourself.Let’s put hate away and enjoy this master’s game,MS DHONI:THE CAPTAIN WITH ALL ICC TITLES.