Unknown facts about M.S Dhoni -the king of cricket
world’s best finisher of the game of Cricket, not much can ruffle the feathers of Captain Cool. There aren’t enough adjectives to describe this cricketing genius, his leadership skills are unparalleled, his understanding of the game highly effective and his brute strength makes him a dangerous batsman.
Here are some lesser known facts about Mahi, as he is fondly known, in and out of the dressing room.
#1. The wicketkeeper batsman made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in 2004, and was run out on the first ball.
Dhoni is run out in his debut innings.
#2. According to Forbes, MS Dhoni’s net worth is $30 million, which exceeds Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar’s net worth.
#3. MSD is fast friends with Bipasha Basu and John Abraham. Perhaps Mahi’s long golden locks, that were admired by none other than former Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf, were inspired by John’s own similar look!
#4. Mahi is the only Indian captain to have led his team to victory in all three major ICC tournaments: the Twenty-20 World Cup (2007), 50 Over World Cup (2011) and the Champion’s Trophy (2013). He also led his victorious team Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (2010 and 2011) and Champions League Twenty20 (2010 and 2014).
Dhoni’s shot that led India to World Cup victory in 2011.
#5. Dhoni is India’s most successful cricket captain, having led India to 27 test victories and a whopping 163 one-day victories. His win percentage is also unparalleled: 45% in tests and 61% in one-day internationals!
#6. In 2007, it was Sachin Tendulkar who recommended MS Dhoni’s name for India’s skipper, given Dhoni’s calm nature and friendly equation with the rest of the team.
#7. Dhoni was conferred with the honorary rank of Lt Colonel by the Indian Territorial Army in November 2011. Dhoni has, time and again, iterated that he would like to play some role in the Army in the future.
#8. MSD loves fast bikes. He has 23 of them, and counting!
#9. Dhoni is the only player to win the ICC Player of the Year award, twice!
#10. In 2012, SportsPro rated Dhoni as the sixteenth most marketable athlete in the world.
#11. MSD is a ‘Rajput’ and has roots in Uttarakhand.
#12. Dhoni is a non-vegetarian and loves his chicken!
#13. Mahi’s wife, the beautiful Sakshi Dhoni, is known to carry electrical cookers along every time she accompanies her husband on cricket tours.
#14. Mahi is a huge fan of Adam Gilchrist.
#15. Dhoni played as a goalkeeper for his school’s football team, and also dabbled with badminton.
#16. Dhoni made his Ranji Trophy debut for Bihar in the 1999–2000 season as an eighteen-year-old.
#17. Dhoni was contracted by the Chennai Super Kings for 1.5 Million USD. This made him the most expensive player in the IPL for the first season auctions.
#18. Dhoni is the only captain in the ODIs to score a century while batting at number 7. He did it against Pakistan in December 2012.
#19. A biographical film based on the life of Dhoni, titled M. S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, is set to be released in 2015. The film features Sushant Singh Rajput playing the role of Dhoni.
Sushant Singh Rajput dons the Dhoni look in this early look of the Dhoni biopic that’s due in 2015.
#20. Only Shahrukh Khan has more brand endorsements than Mahi in his kitty.
#21. MSD has partnered with Telugu filmstar Akkineni Nagarjuna in buying a Supersport World Championship team and named it Mahi Racing Team India.
#22. Dhoni was employed as a Train Ticket Examiner (TTE) at Kharagpur Railway Station from 2001 to 2003.
#23. Having played 90 test matches, Dhoni was only 10 short of a personal milestone of 100 test matches – a feat accomplished only by 10 other Indians. But Dhoni never cared about personal records and never let emotion get in way of his game. He came, he conquered, and he left.
No nonsense, no farewells: Dhoni at his practical best