Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni Biography

•Full Name- Mahendra Singh Dhoni
•Born- 7th July 1981, Ranchi (Bihar) Jharkhand
•Age- 31
•Debut(tests)- 2nd December,2005 V/s Sri Lanka
•Debut (ODI)- 23rd December,2004 V/s Bangladesh
•Debut (T20)- 01th December 2006 V/s South Africa
•Teams Played- India, Bihar, Asia XI, Jharkhand, Chennai Superstars
•Batting  style - Right arm Batsman
•Bowling  Discipline-  
•Wicketkeeper
•Height 5’9

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Capitan Cool is certainly one of the most competent crickets of all time and has certainly cemented his place as one Indian best cricketers and a pioneer of world cricket. From his simple down to earth beginnings as a Ticket Collector to and sensation in terms of aggression on the cricket field to one of the most refined cricketers and finishers of the game. MSD is certainly one of the most conspicuous cricketers that defined the era of cricket commercialized.

EARLY LIFE- Dhoni had one of the simplest childhoods and was an ardent fan of the Batting Maestro Sachin Tendulkar and towards the later years of his life the famed wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist with whom he played in the opposition. He played cricket and made it his passion so much so that he kept up the expectation alive while taking up jobs in college. He served as TTC in the Indian Railway and served as a TTC in the South Eastern Railway based at the Midnapur Station. In the school days, Dhoni was part of the Football and exhibited great reflexes that led him to play as wicket keeper. Moreover he was recognized more for his Keeping than his batting.
 
AS A PLAYER - MSD is also regarded as one of the most critical minds in the game of cricket. His thought process and intake of the game is regarded as one of the most revered cricketing minds. He always maintained a sharp take on the game which has been welcomed and appreciated and at the same time also come under sharp criticism and has been in bad taste.  However he is also regarded for his attitude that stands above all. His temperament and composure has been much written off and appreciated by the media. Moreover his desire to success despite all odds an attitude that fuelled him to achieve the impossible and at the same time scale heights of excellence on the cricketing field over and over again. He has come in times of peril and scaled the team to the shores of success over and over again.

CAREER- Dhoni burst in to the scene with his stellar performance as wicketkeepers at the junior level and stormed in to the scene in just his third game where he scored a blitz erg of 143 out of 123 deliveries against Pakistan. His heroics with the bat did not end there and the cricketer went on to score his second top innings in as many games that is one 183 against Sri Lanka that proved him above the ranks of power hitter. Dhoni continued with consistent performances but was criticized for giving his wicket away in a hurry. However He rectified his game and became more controlled in his approach and turned out to be one of India’s most refined and Best Finisher in both ODI and T20 formats of the game.

Captaincy also bought about a considerable change; however he has maintained his strike rate at a consistent rate and that too rapidly. He along with team mate Yuvraj Singh proved to be an important member of the batting line up. Under his captaincy India clinched the 2007 T20 World cup and also crucial test series wins against Australia and New Zealand. He also became the first captain to land India in the top spots in Tests and One dayers. His batting Exploits accompanied the success of the team and the 2011 World Cup final is perfect example of the same. In this period he has become India’s most successful captains in all formats.

STYLE AND APPROACH - There have been doubts rose on the credentials of the player. Especially after his dismal performances followed by his statement that he was more of instinct batsman than a technical player. His wicket keeping also came under sharp criticism. His ability to perform with patience has not be seen much specially in terms of test matches. Moreover he has also been criticized for the way he attacks and his field placements that have also come under doubt. However this does not mean that he has not a good player of captain.

He induced more clinical approach to his performance and that of his team as well. His excellence lies in making a statement particularly when the chips were down and faith ceased.  That is the excellence of the MSD and the dependence that he induces in to the team. One of his famous quoptes still remains
“I feel we (cricketers from small towns) are tougher than players from metros. In Ranchi, there were no academics, good gyms or high-profile coaches, so we had to learn the cricket hard way.”

RECORDS
•Most Sixes in an Innings in Innings by an Indian (10)
•Highest Score by a wicketkeeper 183
•Highest Average by an Indian in 50 games.
•Highest Individual score by and Indian
•Four IPL finals and 2 tiles
•ICC T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup
•Dhoni, when he was on four during his innings of 23 against Sri Lanka at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Saturday, completed 4,000 runs in ODIs. Having already effected 165 dismissals (125 catches + 40 stumping),
•Dhoni became the sixth wicketkeeper after Adam Gilchrist, Andy Flower, Alec Stewart, Mark Boucher and Kumar Sangakkara to complete the "double" of 4,000 runs and 100 dismissals in the history of ODIs. Dhoni’s feat of completing the "double" of 4,000 runs and 100 dismissals in only 114 innings is a world record. He is the youngest wicket-keeper batsman to do so (27 years and 208 days).

CRITICISM AND CONTROVERSIES- He has been criticized for his cricketing skills and defensive approach in games that has often invited flack and criticism and as such he was given a preference over certain players and his reported feud with senior players and criticizing them to be slack performance in the field. He has also been fined for the reason for slow over rating a couple of times and invited a ban from authorities and has been and this one of his in famous records.

Present time- Dhoni has of late not had the best in terms of his on field exploits but certainly the season began with a new emphasis. He is now intending to plan a series of gymnasiums across the country that provides services to youngster who can avail of these services.

PERSONAL LIFE- Dhoni married Sakshi Singh Rawat on 4 July 2010. Sakshi Dhoni, a native of Dehradun, Uttarakhand. At the time of their marriage, she was studying Hotel Management and was working as a trainee at the Taj Bengal, Kolkata. This is was completely private affair and the media were completely taken unaware of the same.

Top Three Innings of Mahendra Singh Dhoni
•183 Against  Sri Lanka
This Highest score by an Indian wicketkeeper and at the same time is also one of his best performance . The main reason for this is the blitz keg Heralded India’s strength in batting. Most of all the team was also blessed with the long terms prospect of a wicketkeeper batsman.

•143 out of 123 deliveries V/s Pakistan at Vizag 2004/05
This is probably one of those innings played in full fore. Aggressiveness unparallel and talent that is in born. India was gifted again with a hard hitter and most of all a finisher.
 
•91 Against Sri Lanka at Wankhede at Final of ICC World Cup 2011
 This a captains innings a dream innings that cannot be forgotten by India who tuned to the final and watched this classic clash. The final ball being smashed for six and billion hearts rising joy .

Career Status
TESTS
•Matches-67
•Innings-109
•Runs-3,962
•Average-38.52
•Strike rate- 60
•Fifties-26
•Hundreds-5
•Best- 143
•N/O-13
•Sixes-66
•Catches-194
•St-30

ODI
•Matches-211
•Innings-188
•Runs-6908
•Average- 51.17
•Strike rate- 88.52
•Fifties-46
•Hundreds-7
•Best- 183*against  Sri Lanka
•Fours-531
•Sixes- 139
•Catches -199
•Stumpings-66

 T20
•Matches-33
•Innings-31
•Runs-587
•Average- 30.08
•Strike rate- 109.51
•Fifties-0
•Hundreds-0
•Best- 48*
•Fours-34
•Sixes- 17
•Catches -15
•Stumpings-05

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a role model for youth moreover he epitomizes youthfulness and temperament and character and has effectively made the metamorphosis from a aggressive player to one of the most prolific refined cricketers who leads by example.