Mahendra Singh Dhoni Biodata

Awards

ICC World ODI XI: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

ICC ODI Player of the Year : 2008, 2009

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India's highest honour given for achievement in sports, 2007–08

Honorary doctorate degree by De Montfort University in August 2011

Man of the Series Awards

Sri Lanka in India ODI Series in 2005/06 346 Runs

India in Bangladesh ODI Series in 2007 127 Runs

India in Sri Lanka ODI Series in 2008 193 Runs

India in West Indies ODI Series in 2009 182 Runs

India in England ODI Series in 2011 236 Runs

England in India ODI Series in 2011 212 Runs

Man of the Match Awards

Pakistan at Vishakapatnam in 2004/05 148

Sri Lanka at Jaipur in 2005/06 183*

Pakistan at Lahore in 2005/06 72

Bangladesh at Mirpur in 2007 91*

Africa XI at Chennai in 2007 139*

Australia at Chandigarh in 2007 50*

Pakistan at Guwahati in 2007 63

Sri Lanka at Karachi in 2008 67

Sri Lanka at Colombo (RPS) in 2008 76

New Zealand at McLean Park, Napier in 2009 84*

West Indies at Beausejour Stadium, St. Lucia in 2009 46*

Australia at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur in 2009 124

Bangladesh at Mirpur 2010 101*

Sri Lanka at Wankhede Stadium in 2011 91*

England at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in 2011 87*

Pakistan at Chennai in 2012 113*

Pakistan at Feroz Shah Kotla in 2013 36

Sri Lanka at Port of Spain in 2013 45*

Early career

Dhoni was included in the Bihar U-19 squad for the 1998-99 season and scored 176 runs in 5 matches in 7 innings as the team finished fourth in the group of six and did not make it to the quarter-finals. Dhoni was not picked for the East Zone U-19 squad or Rest of India squad. Bihar U-19 cricket team advanced to the finals of the 1999–2000 Cooch Behar Trophy where Dhoni made 84 to help Bihar post a total of 357.

Dhoni made his 'Ranji Trophy' debut for Bihar in the 1999–2000 season as an eighteen-year-old. He made a half century in his debut match scoring 68* in the second innings against Assam cricket team. Dhoni finished the season with 283 runs in 5 matches. Dhoni scored his maiden first-class century while playing for Bihar against Bengal in the 2000/01 season in a losing cause. Apart from the century, his performance in the 2000/01 did not include another score over fifty and in 2001/02 season he scored just five fifty in each season in four Ranji matches. Dhoni scored 362 runs in 6 innings at an average of 72.40 and his performance in the series received attention from the then Indian captain – Sourav Ganguly and Ravi Shastri amongst others. However, the India A team coach Sandeep Patil recommended Dinesh Karthik for a place in the Indian squad as wicket-keeper/batsman.

Test career

Dhoni followed the century with some prosaic batting performances over the next three matches, one against Pakistan that India lost and two against England that had India holding a 1–0 lead. Dhoni was the top scorer in India's first innings in the third Test at Wankhede Stadium as his 64 aided India post a respectable 279 in reply to England's 400. However Dhoni and the Indian fielders dropped catches and missed many dismissal chances including a key stumping opportunity of Andrew Flintoff (14). Dhoni failed to collect the Harbhajan Singh delivery cleanly as Flintoff went on to make 36 more runs as England set a target of 313 for the home team, a target that India were never in the reckoning. A batting collapse saw the team being dismissed for 100 and Dhoni scored just 5 runs and faced criticism for his wicket-keeping lapses as well as his shot selections.

As the batsman started to walk back, captain Dravid declared the innings when confusion started as the umpires were not certain if the fielder stepped on the ropes and Dhoni stayed for the umpire's verdict. While the replays were inconclusive, the captain of the West Indies side, Brian Lara, wanted Dhoni to walk off based on the fielder's assertion of the catch. The impasse continued for more than 15 minutes and Lara's temper was on display with finger wagging against the umpires and snatching the ball from umpire Asad Rauf. Ultimately, Dhoni walked off and Dravid's declaration was effected but the game was delayed, and Lara's action was criticised by the commentators and former players. Lara was summoned by the match referee to give an explanation of his actions but he was not fined.

As A Captain

Dhoni was named the captain of Indian squad for the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 held in South Africa in September 2007. India were crowned champions as Dhoni led the team to victory against Pakistan in a thrilling contest. He, then, went on to become the ODI captain of the Indian team for the seven-match ODI series against Australia in September 2007. He made his debut as full-time Test captain of India during the fourth and final Test against Australia at Nagpur in November 2008 replacing Anil Kumble who was injured in the third test and who then announced his retirement. Dhoni was vice-captain in this series up to that point. India eventually won that Test thus clinching the series 2–0 and retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Dhoni had previously captained India on a stand-in basis against South Africa and Australia in 2008 and 2009.

In March 2013, Dhoni became the most successful Indian Test captain when he eclipsed Sourav Ganguly’s record of 21 victories from 49 Tests. Ganguly also said in an interview to a news channel that Dhoni is the all-time greatest captain of India and he has a great record to support this credential.