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Sarang Bhalerao

6 Jul, 52 tweets, 21 min read

MS Dhoni turns 40. What a fantastic career MSD has had. A true leader who gave people the power to believe in their abilities. Here's his journey & some unheard stories #HappyBirthdayDhoni

1. MS Dhoni attended DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir in Ranchi. Played badminton & basketball too. Was goalkeeper & once his school coach KR Banerjee asked him if he would like to keep wickets for the cricket team. MS agreed & that's how his cricketing journey began #MSDhoni

2. MS Dhoni made a name for himself & was selected in Bihar U-19 team for Cooch Behar Trophy in 1998-99. In the tournament, Dhoni scored 185 runs in 5 matches at an avg of 37 with 1 fifty! The next year was his last chance of getting in the India U-19 team! #HappyBirthdayDhoni

3. MS Dhoni scored 488 runs in 9 matches in the 1999/00 Cooch Behar Trophy which included 4 fifties!He scored 84 in the final against Punjab. He was hoping to make it in the India U-19 side for the World Cup in Sri Lanka. It was so close, yet so far for MSD #HappyBirthdayDhoni

4. For the wicket-keeper spot in the squad it was a three-way race between Ajay Ratra, MS Dhoni and Amit Deshpande from Vidarbha. MSD was the aggressive of the three but didn't score much in the CK Nayudu Trophy.
Ratra made it to the team
#MSDhoni

5. MS Dhoni made his List A & FC debut v Assam at Jamshedpur in 2000. On his FC debut, MSD's first victim as a 'keeper was Parag Das who was stumped. 19 years later, MSD caught Parag Das' son Riyan Parag in the IPL game in Jaipur!
#MSDhoni #msdhonibirthday

6. Before Dhoni played for Bihar, he represented Central Coal Limited. MSD scored a double hundred in school match & put 378* with Shabir Hussain. He was picked in CCL under sports quota. MSD would get monthly stipend of 2K + 200 extra (for being a match-winning player) #MSDhoni

7. Dhoni scored his first FC century at the Eden Gardens against formidable Bengal. MSD scored 195 runs in 4 Ranji Trophy games in 2000/01 season. He was picked in the East Zone side for the Duleep Trophy game v South Zone in Agartala. MSD came to know about this news very late

8. With just 20 hours to go for the game, MSD needed to go from Ranchi to Agartala. MSD couldn't reach on time & had to miss the game. He went with the team to Pune where MSD first saw Sachin Tendulkar--one of his idols. Sachin even asked MSD for water during the drinks break

9. Dhoni moved to Kharagpur as a train ticket examiner.He was part of the South Eastern Railways team. In 2002, MSD went for selection of the Railways team.The selectors weren't impressed with his batting or 'keeping skills.

Pic: With his friends in Kharagpur

PC: The Telegraph

10. Dhoni also played tennis ball cricket for Durga Sporting. He learnt helicopter shot (called 'thappad' shot) from his childhood friend Santosh Lal. MSD was fond of Santosh's aggressive batting style. Unfortunately Santosh succumbed to pancreatitis & died in 2013.

PC: Rediff

11. Talent Resource Development Wing was an initiative by the BCCI to fast-tack talent around India. Dhoni was discovered by TRD Officer Prakash Poddar (former Bengal skipper) & his report was sent to the National Cricket Academy.The year 2004 was the turning point in MSD's life

12. Dhoni hit his 1st List A ton v Assam (128*) & hit 114 v CZ in the Deodhar Trophy 2004. His consistent performances earned him a place in the India A team on the tour of Kenya and Zimbabwe. Dhoni hit 2 tons v Pakistan A in the quadrangular series & was Player of the Tournament

13. In 2004, Dhoni was part of the Indian side which took part in the Hong Kong Super Sixes. His Indian teammates - Pravin Amre, Subroto Banerjee, Iqbal Siddiqui, Nikhil Chopra, Debasis Mohanty #MSDhoni #msdhonibirthday

14. Dhoni was included in the Board President XI side v the visiting South Africa at Jaipur. MSD scored 39 in a 3-day game. In Ranji Trophy 2004/05, he scored 48 v J&K, (97, 6*) v Kerala, (128 & 9) v Orissa. His name was announced in the Indian team for the Bangladesh ODI series

15. On December 23, 2004, MS Dhoni became India's 157th ODI cricketer. He made his debut against Bangladesh in Chittagong. He was run-out of the very first delivery in international cricket. MS Dhoni scored 12 & 7* in the next two ODIs. 3 ODIs, 19 runs #MSDhoni #msdhonibirthday

16. Before MSD made his India debut he was struggling to find sponsor for his cricket kit. His friend Paramjit Singh helped him get a sponsor. In 2004,in a Inter-Railway Cricket tournament in Nagpur,MSD had a great tournament. His name had created a buzz in the cricketing circles

17. #MSDhoni hit 148 off 56 & 124 off 48 in the tournament. When a photographer asked him to pose Dhoni said: "Mera photo paper mein aaye na aaye, iss bat ka zarur aana chahiye." Dhoni wanted to make sure his bat logo was clicked by the photographer

Credits: Ruchir Mishra, TOI

18. In 2005, Dhoni was part of the India Seniors team led by Sourav Ganguly in the Challenger Trophy. In the game v India B, Seniors needed 276 to win. Dhoni scored 102*(96)--10 fours & 4 sixes--opening the innings
#MSDhoni #HappyBirthdayDhoni #msdhonibirthday

19. Dhoni failed in his 4th ODI, scoring just 3 v Pakistan at Kochi. In the four ODIs he batted low down the order. Ganguly had seen MSD's fearless strokeplay in the Challenger Trophy at the top of the order. Ganguly decided to promote MSD at No.3 in Visakhapatnam
#MSDhoni

20. MS Dhoni scored 148 in his 5th ODI batting at No.3. #MSDhoni became the second Indian wicket-keeper to hit a ton in ODIs. The first one--Rahul Dravid--was the non-striker when Dhoni completed the milestone #msdhonibirthday

21. In 2005, Dhoni was part of the Bradman XI in Bradman T20 Cup. He opened with Dean Jones
v KSCA XI. In the next game v Chemplast Recreation Club he scored 91*(61) opening the innings as Bradman XI chased 133! #MSDhoni #msdhonibirthday

22. In the ODI series v SL, Dhoni scored 183* in Jaipur which included 15 fours & 10 sixes.This is still the highest individual score by 'keeper in ODIs. Dhoni scored 346 runs in 5 inns & was named the Player of the Tournament-his 1st in international cricket #MSDhoni

23. MS Dhoni became India's 251st Test cricketer when he made his debut v Sri Lanka at the Chepauk in 2005. In 2006, playing only his 5th Test, Dhoni scored 148 v Pakistan in Faisalabad. He scored 148 in his 5th ODI v Pakistan as well!
#MSDhoni

24. India lost 4-0 in ODI series v SA, lost the Test series 2-1 and won the one-off T20 match. In 2007, India were knocked out of the 50-over WC with Dhoni getting out on ducks v Ban & SL. A mob of angry fans attacked his new house. But soon there was going to be a big change

25. After the senior players decided to take rest, a young team was selected to go to the World T20 in South Africa. MS Dhoni was chosen the captain of this young side. India won the WT20 & soon things changed for the better #MSDhoni #msdhonibirthday

@ChennaiIPL

26. During the 2008 IPL auction, MS Dhoni was picked by
@ChennaiIPL for USD $1.5 million. CSK had in fact kept 1.1 mn USD for MSD but were okay to pay till 1.8 mn USD. This was the highest amount bid for any cricketer in the 2008 IPL auction #msdhonibirthday

27. India won the first ever tri-series in Australia under MS Dhoni. Soon Dhoni became the captain in all three formats. India became the World No.1 in Test cricket in 2009 when they beat Sri Lanka at the CCI. This was a pinnacle of glory for Team India #MSDhoni #msdhonibirthday

28. During the CCI Test, MSD spotted his old Railways coach. MSD went upto him & asked the coach if there was any problem in his game.The coach had no answers & he passed the buck to the selectors. #MSDhoni was rejected by the Railways

Source: Indian Express

29. MS Dhoni as a bowler:

His only international wicket: Travis Dowlin

Dismissed Wriddhiman Saha in the Challenger Trophy 2009 in Nagpur

Kevin Pietersen (Lord's 2011) & Mahela Jayawardene (CT 2013) were given out off MSD's bowling but the decisions were overturned! #MSDhoni

@ChennaiIPL

30. Led Chennai Super Kings to the Playoffs every single IPL season but one (2020).

CSK won the titles in 2010, 2011 and 2018

Played under Suresh Raina in only ONE game for CSK v Yorkshire in Champions League 2012 at Durban

@ChennaiIPL #MSDhoni

31. MS Dhoni, who made his international debut under Sourav Ganguly, did something special for his first captain on his final Test. Dhoni asked Ganguly to lead for a few overs -- v Australia at Nagpur in 2008 #MSDhoni

32. NEWEST MEMBER HOLDING THE WINNERS' TROPHY

MS Dhoni would hand over the winning trophy to the newest member of the squad -- a tradition which he started & continues. This is followed by Team India even now
#MSDhoni #msdhonibirthday

33. In 2015, Jharkhand beat Railways by 115 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Dhoni wanted to play for the Railways but was rejected in 2002. As per the then Jharkhand physio, Dr. Amit Dubey, MSD was like a debutant eagerly waiting for his turn to bat #MSDhoni #msdhonibirthday

34. Like this evening, on December 30, 2014, India drew the Boxing Day Test v Aus. MSD attended the press conference & answered the questions normally. After a few mins there was a press release stating MSD's retirement. This shocked the cricketing world. No one saw that coming!

35. MS Dhoni when he stayed unbeaten in ODI run-chase:

Occasions: 50
India won: 47
India lost: 2
Match tied 1

#MSDhoni #msdhonibirthday

36. MS Dhoni -- Player of the Match in the final of the 2011 World Cup final. Scored an invaluable 91* to see India home after Gambhir set the foundation with his 97.

Only captain to win three different ICC events - WT20 2007, CWC 2011 & CT 2013 #MSDhoni #msdhonibirthday

37. MS Dhoni in ODIs:

Matches 350
Runs 10773
Average 50.57
Strike Rate 88
100s/50s 10/73

First player to reach 10000+ ODI runs at an average of 50+ #MSDhoni

38. MS Dhoni has two 200+ partnerships in ODIs:

256 with Yuvraj Singh for 4th wicket v England at Cuttack (2017)

218 with Mahela Jayawardene (Asia XI) v Africa XI at Chennai (2007)

Highest p'ship in Tests: 259* for 7th wicket with VVS Laxman v SA at Kolkata (2010) #MSDhoni

39. MS Dhoni has played with 107 teammates across formats- 99 Indians & 8 from Asia XI

His Asia XI teammates: Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Mohammad Asif, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mohammad Rafique, Mohammad Yousuf, Dilhara Fernando & Upul Tharanga

40. Captains MS Dhoni has played under in international cricket:

Sourav Ganguly
Rahul Dravid
Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma
Anil Kumble
Virender Sehwag
Mahela Jayawardene

41. His highest Test score of 224 came against Australia on a rank turner at the Chepauk. His innings comprised 24 fours and 6 sixes! This is the highest individual score by an Indian wicketkeeper in Tests
#MSDhoni #msdhonibirthday

42. During the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2015, the internal flights had limited number of business class seats and #MSDhoni (the Indian captain) inevitably handed over his seat to the pace bowlers, wrote Sharda Ugra in Cricinfo

43. MS Dhoni was quite impressive as No.3 batsman in ODIs. Had great ability to pierce the gaps and played lofted shots too. Quite effective in the middle overs—good player of spin + great runner. Innings of 148 & 183* were special. Could play a big shot any time #MSDhoni

44. MS Dhoni Could’ve easily excelled as a No.3 batsman in ODIs. Instead he did the tough job of batting at 5 & 6. Finished games for India. Adapted so well in the ODIs. Averaging 50+ in ODIs batting at 5/6 is special. MSD & Yuvraj won so many matches for India in the mid-2000s

45. MSD captaincy record:

ODIs: Matches 200, Won 110, Lost 74, Tied 5
Tests: Matches 60, Won 27, Lost 18, Draw 15
T20Is: Matches 72, Won 41 + 1 Bowl out win, Lost 28

Captained in 332 international games.

#MSDhoni

46. MS Dhoni

- ICC ODI Player of the Year in 2008 & 2009 - first player to win successive awards
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2007 - second Indian cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar to receive the award
- Padma Bhushan in 2018

47. On ODI debut: Was run-out for a duck
Last ODI innings: Was run-out for 50

Between those two innings hit 10773 runs which includes 10 tons & 73 fifties.

Had the penchant for finishing games with sixes - None better than the six off Kulasekara in WC 2011 final!

48. Thank you for all the special memories MS Dhoni.

Thank you for inspiring an entire generation.

Enjoyed his guidance to young spinners from behind the stumps.

#MSDhoni #msdhonibirthday

49. Street smart #MSD

Took off his right glove & beat Mustafizur — such a street smart cricketer in a must-win match v Bangladesh in WT20 2016

Even in WT20 2007 nominated Harbhajan, Sehwag & Uthappa for the bowl-out v Pakistan. Tactically astute