Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a.k.a. Mahi. If you have a cricket fanatic running in your veins, then I reckon that you know about him. A small-town lad from Ranchi, Jharkhand, proved to us that you could be anything on any platform. A bit of dedicated hard work & a mind as cool as ice would certainly pay you off. During his school days, he was a sports enthusiast who played badminton & also was a goalkeeper for his school football team. But one day, his mentor sighted his inner talent, not in football nor badminton, but as a wicket-keeper in the sport of Cricket and the rest is history.
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Had a start to his cricketing journey as a Ranji player, at the age of 18. His journey from scratch is an inspirational anecdote. From playing tennis ball cricket for a club to being a Ticket Collector in the Kharagpur Railway Station, he faced one heck of obstacles. No one expected this young lad from a small town to dominate the cricketing world but he proved all the odds wrong. His hardwork, dedicated spirit & his cool as ice mind paid him off with flying colours. Kick-starting his international career with a 0, any stereotypes thought that this would be a full stop of this prodigy’s career. But as they say, everything starts with a 0. Known for his never give up attitude, competitive spirit & his cold as ice mind, he made a name in style. Famous for his signature, robust helicopter shot & his lightning-fast hands. He might have started his career with a 0 but ended up becoming a batting & wicket-keeping hero.
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Dhoni, as a captain, always believed in igniting the younger talent, by following the Youngistaan mantra. Always known for preferring an inexperienced side which has qualities resembling an experienced squad. There are several instances to favour the above statement. With the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja & many more, who are ruling this cricketing world. He supported several other budding players as well. Always known for his cool & calm composure, made him one of a kind & earned him the hail of Captain Cool, for a reason.
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Within all the hearts of the MSDian's, there is one moment that stands out of the park. 2nd April 2011, the day when the whole country stood on its own feet during the 2011 World Cup final played in the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai where a nail-biting & edge of the seat entertaining clash happened between the two cricketing powerhouses, India & Sri Lanka which was finished in style by the finisher Mahendra Singh Dhoni himself. The sound out of the Reebok Willow whooshing towards the On Side was soothing & yet adrenaline-packed. This man just rewrote the Indian cricketing history in style.
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I reckon Chennai Super Kings (CSK) & Dhoni is a made in heaven relationship. The contributions towards the IPL franchise by Dhoni is just sensational. The franchise bought him for a whopping $1.5 million (₹6 Crores approx.) in the inaugural season. Under his captaincy, the team has won 3 IPL titles & 2 CLT20 titles. Also, his team qualifies for the playoffs, almost every season. These achievements made him reach the milestone of being the first captain to win 100 IPL games. Also, the team won the IPL Fair Play award six times under his leadership. With these exceptional achievements, he is hailed as the lion of CSK & IPL…
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During his childhood, he idolized India’s most prolific cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar & versatile Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan. Also, he has huge craziness towards motorbikes & dogs. He has around 70 world-class bikes in his garage & a colossal amount of pet dogs at Ranchi’s farmhouse. From winning all the major 3 ICC events as a captain to becoming an honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Army, his achievements are nothing but just fascinating. M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, a film comprehended his illustrious career in a fantabulous way. The film beautifully portrayes his life where the charismatic Late actor Sushant Singh Rajput played the role of Dhoni. Though he might have retired from the sport, but he never retires from a MSDian’s heart. The number 7 on his jersey has a special place in our hearts. And for your information, as the number says, he was born on the 7th of July, 1981. So, here’s wishing our beloved captain, A HAPPY & COOL 40th BIRTHDAY.......
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