Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni turned 45 on Tuesday, and fans across the world are sending in their wishes to the legendary star. Dhoni didn’t play the IPL 2026 season for Chennai Super Kings due to constant fitness issues. This was the first time ‘Thala’ hadn’t been part of the league since its inception in 2008.
Ever since his debut in 2004 against Bangladesh to his final game in July 2019 against New Zealand, the Ranchi-based star has been a huge fan favourite. It took him just two years to assume India’s captaincy, and the wicketkeeper batter made the side a huge force in the white-ball format.
‘Captain Cool’ is also credited with making Chennai a huge force in the IPL. Many players, both Indian and international, have always admired the legendary star’s down-to-earth nature despite huge fan appeal. MSD called time on his international career on 15th August 2020, but is still one of the most loved cricketers across the world.
Here are MS Dhoni’s top five moments from his India career
Winning the fifth IPL title with CSK in 2023
The Men in Yellow played defending champions and home team Gujarat Titans led by Hardik Pandya in the IPL 2023 final. Gujarat batted first and scored a massive 214, with Sai Sudharsan amassing 96 off 47 balls and Wriddhiman Saha posting 54 off 39 balls.
In reply, the Super Kings were given a target of 171 from 15 overs due to rain. Devon Conway led the reply with 47 off 25 balls while Ajinkya Rahane and Ambati Rayudu scored quickfire 27 and 19 runs each. Ravindra Jadeja hit ten runs from two balls to seal the win and the fifth title for his side. This put CSK level with Mumbai Indians as far as most IPL title wins were concerned.
Completing a white-ball treble in England
The final game of the 2013 Champions Trophy between India and England saw rain have its say, and the game was reduced to 20 overs per side. Men in Blue batted first and scored 129 runs on the board, with Virat Kohli’s 43 being the top score. Ravindra Jadeja batted well to hit 33 not out off 25 balls while Shikhar Dhawan scored 31.
In reply, Dhoni led the side brilliantly as he rung in the bowling changes to keep the hosts in check. Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara’s 64-run stand for the 5th had taken England within 20 runs of a win with 15 balls to go. Ishant Sharma then dismissed both batters in successive balls due to MSD’s precise field placing that swung the momentum towards India. Defending 15 off the last over, Ravichandran Ashwin gave away just nine runs to help India win the title by five runs.
Inaugural T20 World Cup winners in 2007
Much wasn’t expected from the Indian side that had gone on to take part in the first-ever T20 World Cup that South Africa hosted. The first game of the tournament was rained out against Scotland, and the second game against Pakistan ended in a tie. MS used Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, and Robin Uthappa as his bowlers in the bowl. India went on to win the tie-break with a 3-0 margin as all the Pakistani bowlers missed their mark.
Loss to New Zealand was followed by wins over England and South Africa in the Super eights. India then beat the ODI World Champions Australia by 15 runs in Durban to book a spot in the final. The title match was against Pakistan, where Gautam Gambhir’s 75 and Rohit Sharma’s 16-ball 30 saw the Indians post 157 runs.
The Pakistanis, thanks to Misbah-ul-Haq, came close to winning the title but eventually lost by five runs. Joginder Sharma was entrusted with the job of bowling the 20th over, and the player delivered under immense pressure.
Making India the world number 1 in Tests for the first time
Sri Lanka had come to India in late 2009 for a three-match Test series where history was created. The first Test in Ahmedabad ended in a high-scoring match, while the second Test that was played in Kanpur saw the hosts win by an innings and 144 runs. The third game of the series was played in Mumbai, where India became the world number 1 side in Test cricket for the first time. Hosts won the game by an innings and 24 runs thanks to Sehwag’s 293-run knock and Zaheer Khan’s 5/72 in the second innings.
Ending a 28-year wait for the ODI World Cup title
2nd April 2011 will always be a special day in Indian cricket history as they won their second ever ODI World Cup. Sri Lanka batted first and scored 274 on the board thanks to Mahela Jayawardene’s 103 not out from 98 balls. The home team lost the wickets of Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar early, leaving them at 31/2 in the seventh over.
When Kohli was dismissed for 35, the hosts still needed 161 runs from 170 balls. That’s when MS walked in at four, and the rest is history. Indian skipper scored 91 runs and added 109 for the 4th wicket with Gambhir, who was out for 97. Ravi Shastri’s “And Dhoni finishes it off in style” is still one of the most iconic lines in cricket.
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