Recalling MS Dhoni Bizzare International Debut: Today is December 13, 2024, the 20th anniversary of the Indian Cricket Team debut of arguably the most iconic cricketer of this country in the 21st century. MS Dhoni. On the same date in 2004, he made his international cricket debut in the most bizarre way, seeing how his career turned out.
MS Dhoni needs no introduction. One of the best wicketkeeper-batters in limited-overs cricket of all time and India’s most successful captain in tournaments won. Dhoni brought a lot of fame and accolades to Indian cricket as a player and as a leader, becoming one of the most beloved and well-known cricketers of all time.
MS Dhoni Made International Debut 20 Years Ago
But this was not the case 20 years ago. Back then, this 23-year-old, long-haired cricketer was from the then-newest Indian state of Jharkhand. He was a domestic cricket standout, scoring big and quick runs in the Ranji, Deodhar, and Duleep Trophies before playing for and doing well for India A.
All this brought this unconventional batter and keeper to the Indian side at a time when the national team was struggling to find a regular and permanent keeper.
Recalling MS Dhoni Bizzare International Debut
This brings us to his international debut. In late 2004, India toured Bangladesh. After winning the two Tests by over an inning, the tour arrived at the three-match ODI series. In the first ODI in Chittagong, India had a team filled with stars like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and Rahul Dravid.
But two men also made their international debut on that day. One was bowler Joginder Sharma, who would later go on to enter the history books for bowling the last over in the final of the 2007 World T20, while the other man was Dhoni.
The home side won the toss and decided to bowl first. The Indian Cricket Team got off to a poor start as captain Sourav Ganguly got out for a duck. Sachin and Yuvraj Singh then played for a while, but both were dismissed before the teams reached 50 runs.
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Rahul Dravid and Mohammed Kaif then built a 128-run partnership together before Dravid was dismissed at 53 at the team score of 173.
When Sridharan Sriram was dismissed for a three, debutant Dhoni walked in at 180/5 in the 42nd over. Facing batting all-rounder Mohammad Rafique, the young wicketkeeper glanced the ball towards short fine leg and took off for a run.
But Kaif, standing at the non-striker’s end, sends Dhoni back. By this time, the fielder has collected the ball and rocketed it towards the Bangladeshi keeper, who knocked the stumps over and ran the debutant out on the first ball of his international career for a duck.
Legendary cricketer and commentator Ravi Shastri was calling that game. This is what he had to say about Dhoni’s dismissal live:
“He’s sent back (by Kaif), the bails are off again. The third umpire is being called for. The Bangladesh fielders are celebrating. In fact, he has not even asked for the third umpire, has he? He’s given him out. Two wickets in two balls, and Dhoni departs first ball, and that’s most unfortunate… That’s out; the umpire was in the perfect position… Dhoni goes for no score.”
India did end up scoring 245 thanks to a fine 80 by Kaif. The Men in Blue won the match by 11 runs. All in all, Joginder Sharma had a better debut that day, bowling eight overs, giving away just 28 runs, and taking his first international wicket.
That entire series was forgettable for MS Dhoni, who scored 12 runs in the second match while India was chasing and seven runs in the final two balls of the inning in the third ODI to have a total of 19 runs in his first three matches.
But all this only compounds the incredible career he has had in the Indian jersey. In only his fifth ODI, Thala scored a massive 148. In 2007, he was named the team captain in the absence of big stars and won the World T20. He then went on to win the 2011 ODI World Cup as the captain and the 2013 Champions Trophy. He was also the captain when India became the World No. 1 ranked Test side for the first time.
In 538 international games for India, MS Dhoni has scored 17266 runs and has 16 centuries at an average of 44.96. He has been the most successful in ODIs, where he has 10773 runs in 350 matches in 297 innings with an average of 50.57.
In franchise cricket as well, MS Dhoni has been stellar. He is the joint most successful captain in IPL history, with five titles under his belt with the Chennai Super Kings. And to see all that came after one of the worst debuts of all time is that much more astounding.
Check Out: MS Dhoni Made International Debut 20 Years Ago
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