Credit: Michael Steele-ICC / Contributor
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, popularly known as MS Dhoni, is a former Indian cricketer and one of the most successful captains in the history of Indian cricket. Born on July 7, 1981, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, India, Dhoni is considered one of the greatest wicketkeeper-batsmen and finishers in the limited-overs formats of the game.
Dhoni’s journey in cricket started at a young age when he excelled as a goalkeeper in football and was later encouraged by his school cricket coach to focus on cricket. He made his debut for Bihar (now Jharkhand) in the Ranji Trophy in the 1999-2000 season and caught the attention of selectors with his hard-hitting batting style and wicketkeeping skills.
In 2004, Dhoni was selected for the Indian national cricket team for an ODI series against Bangladesh. He made an immediate impact by scoring a century in his fifth match and became the first Indian wicketkeeper to achieve this feat. His fearless and aggressive batting style, along with his lightning-quick reflexes as a wicketkeeper, quickly made him a fan favorite.
Dhoni’s breakthrough moment came during the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007 held in South Africa. Under his captaincy, the young Indian team won the tournament, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan in a thrilling final. This victory marked the beginning of a golden era for Indian cricket.
In 2008, Dhoni was appointed as the captain of the Indian cricket team in all formats of the game. Under his leadership, India achieved several historic milestones. The highlight of his captaincy career came in 2011 when he led India to victory in the ICC Cricket World Cup, ending a 28-year-long wait for the trophy. Dhoni played a crucial innings in the final, scoring an unbeaten 91 runs to guide India to victory.
Dhoni’s calm and composed demeanor on the field earned him the nickname “Captain Cool.” He was known for his innovative and unconventional captaincy decisions, such as promoting himself up the batting order or using spinners during powerplay overs. Dhoni’s leadership skills were widely praised, and he is regarded as one of the most successful captains in the history of cricket.
Apart from leading India to World Cup glory, Dhoni also guided the team to victory in the ICC World Twenty20 in 2010, the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013, and the Asia Cup in 2010 and 2016. Under his captaincy, India also became the top-ranked Test team for the first time in 2009.
Dhoni retired from Test cricket in 2014 but continued to play in limited-overs formats. In 2017, he relinquished the captaincy of the limited-overs teams but continued to contribute as a player. Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, 2020, marking the end of an illustrious career that spanned 16 years.
In addition to his achievements in international cricket, Dhoni also had success in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He captained the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) from 2008 to 2015 and then from 2018 to 2020, leading them to three IPL titles (2010, 2011, and 2018).
Dhoni’s contributions to Indian cricket, both as a player and a leader, have left an indelible mark. His ability to remain calm under pressure, his astute decision-making, and his finishing prowess have made him a legendary figure in the world of cricket.
As the captain of the Indian cricket team, MS Dhoni had a remarkable win-loss record across all formats of the game. Here are the approximate win-loss numbers during his tenure as captain:
Test Matches:
- Total Matches: 60
- Wins: 27
- Losses: 18
- Draws: 15
One Day Internationals (ODIs):
- Total Matches: 200
- Wins: 110
- Losses: 74
- Ties/No Results: 16
Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is):
- Total Matches: 72
- Wins: 41
- Losses: 28
- Ties/No Results: 3
It’s important to note that these numbers are approximate and may vary slightly. Dhoni’s win-loss record highlights his success as a captain, particularly in the limited-overs formats, where he had a winning percentage of over 50%.
His leadership and tactical abilities played a significant role in India’s success during his captaincy tenure, including winning major tournaments like the ICC World T20 in 2007, the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011, and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013.