MS Dhoni, The Godfather of Indian Cricket
If Sachin is considered the god of cricket, then MS Dhoni can easily be seen as the godfather of Indian cricket. After legendary players retired, he continued to lead Team India by example. He guided his teammates and offered tips for success in international cricket. Realizing his captaincy tenure had ended, he first stepped down from Test captaincy. MS Dhoni allowed Virat Kohli to take over. Retiring from Test cricket enabled him to focus on shorter formats. He believed he still had much to offer in these formats. He shifted his focus to batting in ODIs and T20 internationals. Eventually, he gave up captaincy in these formats as well. Fortunately for Team India, he decided not to retire. He remained a guiding force for the team.
Over the past few series, Dhoni has played a crucial role in helping players score runs in tense situations. Even a tailender like Bhuvneshwar Kumar can score a half-century with Dhoni at the crease, ensuring the wicket stays intact while also scoring runs himself. Players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have acknowledged the significant role Dhoni continues to play in their development post-captaincy.
A recent example of his selfless batting was seen in the first ODI against Australia. India had lost five wickets with just around 80 runs on the board, facing a possible defeat. Hardik Pandya and MS Dhoni were at the crease, trying to rescue India from a precarious situation. Hardik is not always reliable in such situations. He played his shots freely, his confidence bolstered by Dhoni’s presence. The former captain continuously talked to him. He ensured he stayed focused. After Hardik departed, Dhoni took charge, blasting the bowlers for runs, a familiar sight for fans.
Being a godfather of Indian cricket isn’t easy. Dhoni has faced criticism in the past. Yet, his unbreakable determination has helped him overcome challenges. Moreover, with the way he’s playing now, he could represent India for many more years.
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Godfather of Indian Cricket Career
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is an Indian cricketer known for his right-handed batting and wicket-keeping. They regarded him as one of the best wicket-keeper-batsmen and captains. Dhoni led the Indian cricket team in limited-overs formats from 2007 to 2017 and in Test cricket from 2008 to 2014. Dhoni has led the most international matches and is considered India’s most successful captain. He led the team to victory in the 2011 Cricket World Cup, the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. He also led India to Asia Cup wins in 2010, 2016, and was part of the winning squad in 2018.
Born in Ranchi, Dhoni made his first-class debut for Bihar in 1999. He made his international debut for India in an ODI against Bangladesh on December 23, 2004. Dhoni made his Test debut a year later against Sri Lanka. He became the ODI captain in 2007 and took over all formats by 2008. He retired from Test cricket in 2014 but continued in limited-overs cricket until 2019. During his career, he amassed over 17,266 runs in international cricket. This includes more than 10,000 runs in ODIs at an average above 50.
In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Dhoni has led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to ten finals. They have won five times (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023). He also won two Champions League T20 titles in 2010 and 2014. He is among the few batsmen who have scored over five thousand runs in the IPL. Additionally, the godfather of Indian cricket was the first wicket-keeper to achieve this feat.
Dhoni received India’s highest sports honor, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, in 2008. He also received the Padma Shri in 2009 and the Padma Bhushan in 2018. In 2011, he was awarded the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Regiment of the Indian Territorial Army. He remains one of the most popular cricketers globally.
Godfather of Indian Cricket Cricket Records
Test Cricket
Under Dhoni’s captaincy in 2009, India achieved the top spot in the ICC Test Cricket rankings for the first time.
Dhoni is widely celebrated as the most successful Indian Test Captain, having led the team to victory in 27 Test matches.
He holds the record for the most overseas Test defeats by an Indian captain, with 15 losses.
Dhoni became the first Indian wicket-keeper to amass 4,000 test runs during his career.
His innings of 224 against Australia stands as the highest score by a wicket-keeper–captain and the third-highest by an Indian Captain overall.
Dhoni’s maiden century against Pakistan remains the fastest century scored by an Indian wicket-keeper and the fourth-fastest overall.
As a captain, Dhoni completed 50 sixes during his career.
With 294 dismissals in his entire career, Dhoni holds the record for the most dismissals by an Indian wicket-keeper.
Dhoni shares the record for the most dismissals in an innings by an Indian wicket-keeper, achieving 6 dismissals in a match along with Syed Kirmani.
He also holds the record for the most dismissals in a match by an Indian wicket-keeper, with 9 dismissals.
ODI Cricket
He was the third Indian captain and the first to achieve 100 wins in international cricket.
Following Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and Rahul Dravid, he became the fourth Indian cricketer to surpass 10,000 ODI runs. Additionally, he is the second wicket-keeper to reach this milestone.
With a career average exceeding 50, he became the first player to accumulate 10,000 runs in ODIs.
Among cricketers with more than 5,000 runs, he holds the fifth-highest batting average. Among players with over 10,000 runs, his batting average of 51.09 is the second-highest.
He holds the record for scoring the most runs at number 6 in ODI history, amassing 4031 runs.
As a number 7 batsman, he is the only cricketer to score centuries in ODIs, achieving this feat twice.
He remained not out 82 times in ODIs during his career.
His score of 183* against Sri Lanka is the highest by a wicket-keeper in ODI history.
Scoring 113 against Pakistan, he holds the record for the highest score by a captain batting at number 7 in ODIs.
He shares the record for India’s highest eighth-wicket partnership in ODIs with Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
He holds the record for the most unbeaten innings and the highest average among batsmen in ODI run-chases.
He is the only cricketer to have played the most ODI matches as both a captain and wicket-keeper.
He holds the record for the most dismissals in an innings and career by an Indian wicket-keeper, with 6 and 432 respectively.
He holds the record for the most stumpings by a wicket-keeper in ODI history, with 120.
He was the first Indian and the fourth wicket-keeper in the world to take 300 ODI catches.
T20I Cricket
He has the most wins as a captain, totaling 41 victories.
He holds the record for playing the most matches as both a captain and wicket-keeper, with 72 games.
He has the longest streak of consecutive T20I innings without being dismissed for a duck, lasting 84 innings.
Dhoni has played the most T20I innings, appearing in 76 matches.
He holds the record for the most dismissals as a wicket-keeper in T20Is, with 87.
He has taken the most catches by a wicket-keeper in T20Is, with a total of 54 catches.
Dhoni holds the record for the most stumpings by a wicket-keeper in T20Is, with 33 stumpings.
He also holds the record for the most catches by a wicketkeeper in a single T20I inning, with 5 catches.
Dhoni's Legacy
MS Dhoni’s retirement in 2019 marked the end of an era. But his legacy as the godfather of Indian cricket is far from over. He established a culture of winning, a belief that India could compete and conquer on any stage. He nurtured a generation of champions who continue to dominate the sport.
Dhoni’s influence goes beyond numbers. He is a symbol of calmness in tough situations, inspiring as a leader with his quiet confidence. The godfather of Indian cricket has also shaped the future of Indian cricket as a mentor. His journey, from a small-town boy to a global icon, is an inspiration to millions. MS Dhoni, the godfather of Indian cricket, has left an unforgettable legacy in the sport that will continue to inspire generations to come.
