By Rahul Patra
Born in Ranchi, Bihar (now Jharkhand), on July 7, 1981, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is more than just a player. When he represented the Men in Blue, he was the hope of a billion, even now, aged above 40, and having long left the India national cricket team, the crowds still go gaga for their “Thala”. From being a kid who loved goalkeeping in football to winning it all in cricket: T20 WC, ODI World Cup, and the Champions Trophy, and claiming his stance as the best captain India had, MS Dhoni is the epitome of a “larger than life” superhero, who still manages to stay “Captain Cool”. As MS Dhoni celebrates his 44th birthday today in 2025, let’s see his beautiful journey below. MS Dhoni Inducted Into ICC Hall of Fame 2025; Three-Time ICC Title-Winning Captain Becomes 11th Indian Cricketer To Join Elite List. Life Before Cricketing Fame MS Dhoni loved playing as a goalkeeper during his schooling days at DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir. It was in school when MS got his first taste in serious cricket, as his coach coach Keshav Banerjee suggested him to try the sport. A young MS Dhoni played many domestic tournaments, starting from the late 1990s. He played in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, Cooch Behar Trophy, and the C. K. Nayudu Trophy, before getting his break finally in the Ranji Trophy for Bihar. MS Dhoni also served as a Traveling Ticket Examiner (TTE) for the South Eastern Railway at Kharagpur Railway Station. But interestingly, he never played for the Railways Ranji Team. In fact, he tried to get into the team but was never selected. While the selectors for the Railways side weren’t happy, destiny had other plans for Mahi. MS Dhoni shined in domestic cricket for Bihar, and later for Jharkhand, and represented India A before finally getting his debut call for the India national cricket team. MS Dhoni Files Trademark Of ‘Captain Cool’; Star Wicketkeeper-Batter Strengthens Brand By Claiming Ownership on Popular Nickname. Debut, ICC T20 World Cup 2007, Captaincy, and Never Looking Back MS Dhoni marked his international debut in December 23, 2004, in an ODI against ODI. His illustrious career started with a shocking duck, owing run out, resulting from miscommunication. Dhoni was picked again for an ODI series against Pakistan. He had a poor start, but in his fifth game, he managed to score 148 runs, etching his name since then, forever in history. Soon, from late 2005 MS Dhoni became a regular in the Indian cricket team. In December 2005, Dhoni was awarded a “B” grade contract by the BCCI, and since then there has been no looking back. A part of the ODI Cricket World Cup 2007, when Team India had an unfortunate, disappointing group stage exit, MS Dhoni was also booed, and his house in his very hometown was vandalized. But it was MS Dhoni’s brilliance with the bat and gloves, behind the stumps, that MS Dhoni was selected to lead the ICC T20 World Cup 2007 Indian squad. It was a new squad, with young talents, and proven, experienced stalwarts rested. Team India were new to the format at that time, and there were little hopes. But, surprising all, Team India won the inaugural edition of the T20I World Cup, and MS Dhoni became a legend overnight, a sensation, an emotion for a billion. And why not, he was the only captain after Kapil Dev in 1983, to win the World Cup, and make the nation proud. Soon, after Rahul Dravid’s resignation, MS Dhoni was named the captain of the ODI side too in 2007. Then, the big mission began, planning for the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2011, hosted in India. MS Dhoni chalked out the plans, created a side he likes, and took the risk of leaving many stalwarts behind. But in the end, it was fruitful. MS Dhoni finished it off in style on April 2, 2011, in Mumbai, winning the ICC ODI World Cup 2011. MS Dhoni Shifting to New Zealand? KRK Claims Former Indian Cricket Team Captain To Move To Island Country With Wife Sakshi and Daughter Ziva. MS Dhoni also lead the Men in Blue to a successful triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013. He went on to captain India, and attain wins, but silverware post-2013 was not in sight. MS Dhoni left the captaincy, stayed as a player until 2019, and still plays in the IPL, raising smiles on every fan’s face when he comes to bat for the Chennai Super Kings, for whom he won five trophies, making the franchise most successful. And of course, he is the greatest captain of all-time, be in for the India national cricket team or CSK.