Indian cricket team and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend MS Dhoni has had a fantastic career, both as a player and a skipper. He has led India and CSK to numerous titles and accolades.
Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket back in 2020 and has been featuring only in the IPL since. Ahead of the 2024 season, Dhoni handed over the CSK captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad, hinting at a possible retirement from IPL as well.
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Crowds have given the 42-year-old huge reception in every stadium he has entered this season, especially when he comes out to bat. The game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday could possibly be his last in his 20-year long career, as the losing team will be knocked out from qualifying for the playoffs.
As Dhoni nears the end of the road in cricket, The Sporting News takes a look at the glorious career.
MS Dhoni made his international debut with the Indian team back in 2004 as a wicket-keeper batsman. Playing against Bangladesh in his first game, Dhoni was run out on the very first ball he played in international cricket.
After a difficult start to his career, Dhoni gradually went on to become one of the most important members in the team. He was eventually handed India captaincy for the first ever ICC T20 World Cup that was to be held in South Africa in 2007.
India went on to become the inaugural champions of the T20 World Cup, defeating the likes of England, Australia and lastly arch-rivals Pakistan in the final of the tournament. Dhoni’s composure along with his decision making skills throughout the tournament was appreciated by both fans and pundits.
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Following the T20 World Cup success, Dhoni was appointed as the captain for all three formats in 2008, since then, he never looked back. Dhoni led India to the 2011 ODI World Cup, winning the cup after 28 years, led India to become the number 1 Test team and finally the ICC Champions Trophy success in 2013.
Dhoni became the first ever captain in history to win the ICC T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup and the Champions Trophy. He eventually handed over the captaincy to Virat Kohli in 2017 and was part of the team taht played the 2019 World Cup. In a bizarre turn of events, Dhoni played his final game against New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup, where he was run out as India crashed out. The veteran keeper ended his international career exactly the way he started.
MS Dhoni was picked up by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise in the first ever IPL auction in 2008. He was appointed as the captain of the team to no one’s surprise and led the men in yellow to the final in their first ever season. They lost the final to the eventual and inaugural IPL champions, Rajasthan Royals (RR).
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CSK won their first ever title under Dhoni’s leadership in 2010 by defeating the Mumbai Indians (MI)in the final and repeated the feat once again in 2011, defeating RCB in the final this time around. Later on, when CSK were banned from the IPL for two years, Dhoni played for the Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) and led them to a final as well.
When CSK were reinstated in 2018, Dhoni once again led them to glory in that same year and repeated the feat twice again in 2021 and most recently in 2023. He is the only captain alongside MI skipper Rohit Sharma to have won five IPL titles.
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On Saturday night against RCB, Dhoni could be putting an end to a marvelous career with the whole country celebrating his mesmerizing achievements in the world of cricket. A moment that many of the fans are still not ready for.
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Rahul is a content producer for The Sporting News’ India edition.
