His harmu home (built soon after he got recognition at international stage) is barely 400 meters from my home. From watching him play tennis ball cricket to leather ball and then to don the india jersey was a journey close to the heart for Ranchites like me. 
The man who gave Ranchi recognition worldwide.
Who knew a small town Ranchi even after being the capital of Jharkhand.
I had just joined college when Dhoni debuted. People used to ask, where are you from?
Ranchi would get a response, oh, you mean Bihar.
I had given up correcting
Who knew a small town Ranchi even after being the capital of Jharkhand.
I had just joined college when Dhoni debuted. People used to ask, where are you from?
Ranchi would get a response, oh, you mean Bihar.
I had given up correcting
A horrible debut aside, it wasn't long before Dhoni came into his own. Credit to Dada @SGanguly99 to not just believe in a swashbuckling youngster with long locks and fearless batting approach to be given a long run to settle down. Soon Dhoni was a household name.
By 2007, he had already added the Inaugural T20 world cup to his name and gave Indians the joy of an ICC trophy after 23 years.
I was in my 3rr year, attempting job interviews at campus and I remember anything interviewer telling me, "you are from Ranchi, from Dhoni's place".
I was in my 3rr year, attempting job interviews at campus and I remember anything interviewer telling me, "you are from Ranchi, from Dhoni's place".
He grew in stature, his game kept rising, and so did his stars after the T20 win.
Captainship in ODI and test came soon after and the man grew further.
Bold decisions, at times that no pundits could make sense of, or understand, unique field plays.. He was coming on his own.
Captainship in ODI and test came soon after and the man grew further.
Bold decisions, at times that no pundits could make sense of, or understand, unique field plays.. He was coming on his own.
I had watched him before he became a star. I had watches him in B division matches held at Harmu ground, a store throw away. I had watched him bat l, surprisingly he used to bowl as well. Had watched him bowl on matting wickets and bounce the batsman and hurt a few.
This Dhoni on the global stage was a better finer refined version of the raw diamond we had seen earlier.
The core thoug had remained completely true to his origins.
Do you remember a video going viral, Dhoni in Ranchi, talking to his friends who were pulling his leg.
The core thoug had remained completely true to his origins.
Do you remember a video going viral, Dhoni in Ranchi, talking to his friends who were pulling his leg.
The stories of how he helped Santosh Lal immensely when he wasn't keeping well isn't as well known as it should be.
His tales of friendship go beyond. He ensured the Jharkhand cricket team players got everything they needed for cricket, even those who were not on Ranji squads.
His tales of friendship go beyond. He ensured the Jharkhand cricket team players got everything they needed for cricket, even those who were not on Ranji squads.
By the time 2011 came, World Cup at home, @sachin_rt Last world cup, the pressure and expectations from MS were paramount. Don't forget India's horrible 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.
There was nothing bigger in cricketing world and the opportunity was there.
There was nothing bigger in cricketing world and the opportunity was there.
We all know how the World Cup 2011 ended.
Forever etched in memories of this generation.
Our biggest and wildest dream turned to reality after 28 years of waiting. We danced late into the night on streets then.
Forever etched in memories of this generation.
Our biggest and wildest dream turned to reality after 28 years of waiting. We danced late into the night on streets then.
He added another trophy to the team India cabinet couple of years later, the ICC Champions Trophy, making him the only captain to win all 3 ICC trophies. Still the only one.
Test Championship came soon after.
Test Championship came soon after.
He was hitting sixes, one after the other
He was winning matches, one after the other.
He was winning hearts, millions of them, everyday.
Dhoni brought that sense of joy and hope that Sachin had done for so many years before him and along with him (2005-2013)
He was winning matches, one after the other.
He was winning hearts, millions of them, everyday.
Dhoni brought that sense of joy and hope that Sachin had done for so many years before him and along with him (2005-2013)
He was hitting sixes, one after the other
He was winning matches, one after the other
He was winning hearts, millions at a time.
He brough joy and hope to us Indians all over much like Sachin had done for over 2 decades
He was winning matches, one after the other
He was winning hearts, millions at a time.
He brough joy and hope to us Indians all over much like Sachin had done for over 2 decades
Then came the abrupt retirement from Test. In the middle of a series that too on Australian soil.
The coach and vice captain were shocked.
When had you seen a India captain retire like this ever?
And his logic was, new year new captain new start. 😯
The coach and vice captain were shocked.
When had you seen a India captain retire like this ever?
And his logic was, new year new captain new start. 😯
His ODI and T20 run continued and even though some years down the line Virat took up captaincy across the formats, Dhoni went above and beyond to support and suggest what to do, with field settings, bowling changes and tips to bowlers. Nothing was beneath the man.
The World Cup 2019 ended for us with that run out. An inch there and it would have been a different story. So did Dhoni's career in the Indian jersey. The one he proudly wore for 15 years.
Many hearts were broken. We didn't realize the innings would become his last.
Many hearts were broken. We didn't realize the innings would become his last.
Knowing Dhoni and his ways, one things to was sure. He will never wait for a farewell match. Never wait for a stage. Never wait for another go if he made up his mind.
His retirement announcement was going to be all of a sudden I had said many times to my friends. How true.
His retirement announcement was going to be all of a sudden I had said many times to my friends. How true.
The man who walked a unique path to success
The man who played for the nation like on soldier's duty
The man who started small & made it large, literally, in every aspect of game, fame & personality
The man who was hard to perturb in the deepest moments of nail-biting finishes
The man who played for the nation like on soldier's duty
The man who started small & made it large, literally, in every aspect of game, fame & personality
The man who was hard to perturb in the deepest moments of nail-biting finishes
The man who enjoyed more on the sidelines, handing over the trophies to team mates
Check him 2nd from left in the pic after winning the biggest prize in cricket.
The man who was critical of his decisions even in winning, calling an experiment an experiment and not masterstroke
Check him 2nd from left in the pic after winning the biggest prize in cricket.
The man who was critical of his decisions even in winning, calling an experiment an experiment and not masterstroke
The man who made a name for himself deep down south in Chennai where no one would have thought a Jharkhandi boy will steal their hearts and capture their minds that only movie stars have done in the past
#Yellove @ChennaiIPL
#Yellove @ChennaiIPL
The man.
The journey.
The enigma.
One of the modern day legends of cricket.
Take a bow, Mahi @msdhoni
A day to celebrate his achievements and the immense joys he has brought us over these 15 years or so.
"Dhoni finishes in style..."
The journey.
The enigma.
One of the modern day legends of cricket.
Take a bow, Mahi @msdhoni
A day to celebrate his achievements and the immense joys he has brought us over these 15 years or so.
"Dhoni finishes in style..."
@threadreaderapp Unroll please
