<p>The crestfallen look on Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s face was beamed across the subcontinent as the then 23-year-old — his silky black mane cascading on his broad shoulders — appeared gutted after a nightmarish international debut in 2004.</p>

<p>Dhoni had fallen for a first ball duck in Chittagong, and in the cruellest of manner — run out.</p>

<p>For much of the next decade-and-half, Dhoni subjected rivals to such agonies — from behind the stumps, with the bat, and as a shrewd captain of a highly successful team.</p>

<p>Three and half months after that forgettable debut, Dhoni announced his arrival with a breath-taking 148 off 123 balls against Pakistan in Visakhapatnam.</p>

<p>He wielded the willow like a mace and his batting was less technique and more pyrotechnic.</p>

<p>He did not have the steely defence of a Rahul Dravid or the silken touch of a VVS Laxman but Dhoni made up with his muscular ingenuity.</p>

<p>He converted the yorker into a scoring opportunity with his trademark ‘helicopter shot’, a culmination of violent convulsions involving his arm, wrists and torso.</p>

<p>Dhoni wrote his own keeping manual too, barely moving hands sideways before gathering the ball and rather thrusting them down to pull off electric stumpings.</p>

<p>His biggest legacy, however, would be as India’s ‘Captain Cool’ who was also one of one-day cricket’s greatest finishers.</p>

<p>Dhoni is the only captain to win all ICC trophies — T20 World Cup in 2007, 50-overs World Cup in 2011 and Champions Trophy in 2013. Under him, India also became the top ranked test nation in 2009.</p>

<p>And he led a cricket-mad nation of 1.3 billion with ice in his veins.</p>

<p>“It’s almost as if he doesn’t have them; a performance-enhancing gift from birth,” India’s former mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton wrote about Dhoni’s control over emotion in his memoir.</p>

<h3>INSPIRING DECISION</h3>

<p>Dhoni’s penchant for taking inspiring decisions was best illustrated in the tense final of the 2007 World Cup, when he famously asked an unheralded Joginder Sharma to bowl the final over in a tactical masterstroke against Pakistan.</p>

<p>He also transformed himself into a formidable ‘finisher’, securing India’s 2011 World Cup victory by hitting a six in the final against Sri Lanka.</p>

<p>Age, however, appeared to catch up with him in the World Cup in England last year.</p>

<p>He struggled to time the ball even against mediocre attacks and failed to provide the late assault that he once routinely delivered.</p>

<p>Those wild, flowing tresses that was once a rage among the youths in rural India, have now been replaced by greying sideburns.</p>

<p>An enigma throughout his career, Dhoni quit test cricket in the middle of India’s 2014 series in Australia.</p>

<p>On Saturday, he again shocked an unsuspecting nation, announcing his exit from international cricket with a cryptic Instagram message.</p>

<p>His fairytale rise from India’s cricketing backwaters of Jharkhand sounds like a storyline straight out of a Bollywood script. In reality, it’s the other way round.</p>

<p>Known for his fondness for bikes and military fatigue, Dhoni’s stellar career inspired a 2016 biopic “M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story” which was a roaring box office success.</p>

<p>Such has been his influence that successor Virat Kohli still considers Dhoni his captain.</p>

<p>“The world has seen achievements, I’ve seen the person. Thanks for everything skip. I tip my hat to you,” Kohli said on Twitter on Saturday.</p>


The crestfallen look on Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s face was beamed across the subcontinent as the then 23-year-old — his silky black mane cascading on his broad shoulders — appeared gutted after a nightmarish international debut in 2004.

The crestfallen look on Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s face was beamed across the subcontinent as the then 23-year-old — his silky black mane cascading on his broad shoulders — appeared gutted after a nightmarish international debut in 2004. Dhoni had fallen for a first ball duck in Chittagong, and in the cruellest of manner — run out. For much of the next decade-and-half, Dhoni subjected rivals to such agonies — from behind the stumps, with the bat, and as a shrewd captain of a highly successful team. Three and half months after that forgettable debut, Dhoni announced his arrival with a breath-taking 148 off 123 balls against Pakistan in Visakhapatnam. He wielded the willow like a mace and his batting was less technique and more pyrotechnic. He did not have the steely defence of a Rahul Dravid or the silken touch of a VVS Laxman but Dhoni made up with his muscular ingenuity. He converted the yorker into a scoring opportunity with his trademark ‘helicopter shot’, a culmination of violent convulsions involving his arm, wrists and torso. Dhoni wrote his own keeping manual too, barely moving hands sideways before gathering the ball and rather thrusting them down to pull off electric stumpings. His biggest legacy, however, would be as India’s ‘Captain Cool’ who was also one of one-day cricket’s greatest finishers. Dhoni is the only captain to win all ICC trophies — T20 World Cup in 2007, 50-overs World Cup in 2011 and Champions Trophy in 2013. Under him, India also became the top ranked test nation in 2009. And he led a cricket-mad nation of 1.3 billion with ice in his veins. “It’s almost as if he doesn’t have them; a performance-enhancing gift from birth,” India’s former mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton wrote about Dhoni’s control over emotion in his memoir. INSPIRING DECISION Dhoni’s penchant for taking inspiring decisions was best illustrated in the tense final of the 2007 World Cup, when he famously asked an unheralded Joginder Sharma to bowl the final over in a tactical masterstroke against Pakistan. He also transformed himself into a formidable ‘finisher’, securing India’s 2011 World Cup victory by hitting a six in the final against Sri Lanka. Age, however, appeared to catch up with him in the World Cup in England last year. He struggled to time the ball even against mediocre attacks and failed to provide the late assault that he once routinely delivered. Those wild, flowing tresses that was once a rage among the youths in rural India, have now been replaced by greying sideburns. An enigma throughout his career, Dhoni quit test cricket in the middle of India’s 2014 series in Australia. On Saturday, he again shocked an unsuspecting nation, announcing his exit from international cricket with a cryptic Instagram message. His fairytale rise from India’s cricketing backwaters of Jharkhand sounds like a storyline straight out of a Bollywood script. In reality, it’s the other way round. Known for his fondness for bikes and military fatigue, Dhoni’s stellar career inspired a 2016 biopic “M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story” which was a roaring box office success. Such has been his influence that successor Virat Kohli still considers Dhoni his captain. “The world has seen achievements, I’ve seen the person. Thanks for everything skip. I tip my hat to you,” Kohli said on Twitter on Saturday.

Hinterland to centrestage, Dhoni ends journey with enigma intact

Former captain of Indian cricket team MS Dhoni on Saturday (15 August 2020) hanged his boots from all forms of international cricket. Dhoni took to photo-blogging platform Instagram to post an emotional video as he bid adieu to international cricket in what can be termed as the most Dhoni-esque way of quitting the sport.

Former Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni retires from international cricket

Indian cricketer MS Dhoni announces retirement from international cricket

Witty, classy, cool: Relive some of the best quotes from MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni announces retirement! Check out some of his coolest records

<p>Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni on Saturday, August 15 2020, announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket. Dhoni took to social media platform Instagram to post an emotional video with photographs from his journey with the Indian team while leaving a heartfelt caption.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Thanks. Thanks a lot for ur love and support thorughout.from 1929 hrs consider me as retired" - Dhoni captioned the video on his Instagram handle.&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CD6ZQn1lGBi/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout.from 1929 hrs consider me as Retired</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mahi7781/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> M S Dhoni</a> (@mahi7781) on <time datetime="2020-08-15T14:01:53+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Aug 15, 2020 at 7:01am PDT</time></p>
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<p>It is truly an end of an era in Indian cricket as the only skipper who won all the major ICC trophies hangs his boot from international cricket. It was under Dhoni's leadership when India ended their long wait for World Cup since winning it last in 1983 and lifted the coveted trophy in 2011 at the iconic Wankhede. Under Dhoni, India also won the World T20 in 2007 where he led a young team to win the tournament against all odds.</p>

<p>Dhoni's stay with Team India will always be remembered for his calm captaincy as he earned the term 'captain cool'. While he finished uncountable matches for the Men in Blue with his incredible hitting in the death overs, his tendancy to take the game deep earned his plaudits from all corners of the world.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dhoni scored 4876 runs in Test cricket (90 matches) at an average of 38.09 with six centuries and 33 half-centuries but it was the shorter formats of the game where the world witnessed the best of his talent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 350 ODIs, Dhoni smashed 10,773 runs at an incredible average of 50.57 with 10 tons and 73 half-centuries to his name. In 98 T20Is, he hammered 1617 runs at a strike-rate of 126.13 in what has been a dream ride for Dhoni and Team India.</p>

<p>Dhoni, who has stayed away from media limelight,&nbsp;played his last match for Team India in the semi-final of ICC World Cup 2019 and his retirement will be remembered as the most Dhoni-esque way of quitting international cricket. However, he will continue to don the yellow jersey for Chennai Super Kings in Indian Premier League.&nbsp;</p>


Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni on Saturday, August 15 2020, announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket. Dhoni took to social media platform Instagram to post an emotional video with photographs from his journey with the Indian team while leaving a heartfelt caption.

Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni on Saturday, August 15 2020, announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket. Dhoni took to social media platform Instagram to post an emotional video with photographs from his journey with the Indian team while leaving a heartfelt caption. "Thanks. Thanks a lot for ur love and support thorughout.from 1929 hrs consider me as retired" - Dhoni captioned the video on his Instagram handle. View this post on Instagram Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout.from 1929 hrs consider me as Retired A post shared by M S Dhoni (@mahi7781) on Aug 15, 2020 at 7:01am PDT × It is truly an end of an era in Indian cricket as the only skipper who won all the major ICC trophies hangs his boot from international cricket. It was under Dhoni's leadership when India ended their long wait for World Cup since winning it last in 1983 and lifted the coveted trophy in 2011 at the iconic Wankhede. Under Dhoni, India also won the World T20 in 2007 where he led a young team to win the tournament against all odds. Dhoni's stay with Team India will always be remembered for his calm captaincy as he earned the term 'captain cool'. While he finished uncountable matches for the Men in Blue with his incredible hitting in the death overs, his tendancy to take the game deep earned his plaudits from all corners of the world. Dhoni scored 4876 runs in Test cricket (90 matches) at an average of 38.09 with six centuries and 33 half-centuries but it was the shorter formats of the game where the world witnessed the best of his talent. In 350 ODIs, Dhoni smashed 10,773 runs at an incredible average of 50.57 with 10 tons and 73 half-centuries to his name. In 98 T20Is, he hammered 1617 runs at a strike-rate of 126.13 in what has been a dream ride for Dhoni and Team India. Dhoni, who has stayed away from media limelight, played his last match for Team India in the semi-final of ICC World Cup 2019 and his retirement will be remembered as the most Dhoni-esque way of quitting international cricket. However, he will continue to don the yellow jersey for Chennai Super Kings in Indian Premier League.

MS Dhoni announces retirement from international cricket

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