Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the only captain in cricket history to win all three ICC trophies, celebrates his 42nd birthday today.
As the special day approached, captivating images emerged, showcasing colossal Dhoni cut-outs in Hyderabad and Nandigama, Andhra Pradesh.
Standing at an impressive height of 52 feet, the Hyderabad cut-out portrays Dhoni donning the Indian jersey, while the towering 77-foot Nandigama cut-out features him in the training kit of CSK
BCCI wished the ‘Captain Cool’ with a special post. They called Dhoni ‘Captain, Leader, Legend’. The post also had Dhoni sitting with three ICC trophies he has won over the years: ICC T20 World Cup 2007, ICC ODI World Cup 2011 and ICC Champions Trophy 2013. Dhoni may have turned 42 but he will soon return to play the next edition of Indian Premier League. He recently won Chennai Super Kings their record-equalling fifth title and wants to leave by making them the most successful franchise in the league.
Captain. Leader. Legend! 🙌
Wishing @msdhoni – former #TeamIndia Captain & one of the finest to have ever graced the game – a very happy birthday 🎂
Here's a birthday treat for all the fans – 7️⃣0️⃣ seconds of vintage MSD 🔥 🔽https://t.co/F6A5Hyp1Ak pic.twitter.com/Nz78S3SQYd
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 7, 2023
After taking over the team’s reigns in 2007, the Dhoni-led Indian team became the world No. 1 Test team for the first time in 2009.
Dhoni stepped down as Test captain during India’s tour of Australia in 2014 after playing his 90th Test and then gave up the T20I and ODI captaincy in January 2017. He still has the most wins by an India captain in both the white-ball formats.
Dhoni called ‘Thala’ by his Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fans, Dhoni has led the IPL franchise ever since the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2008. CSK have won five IPL titles under his captaincy.
He has played 350 ODIs and 98 T20Is, having scored 10,773 and 1617 runs respectively. In ODIs, he has scored 10 centuries and 73 fifties. He has made two half-centuries in T20Is.
Virender Sehwag, the former opening batter and MSD’s teammateTaking to Twitter to show his love for Dhoni on his birthday, Sehwag wrote a beautiful note. He shared pictures from playing days on social media website and wrote: “The Sun God has 7 horses to pull his heavenly chariot. In the Rigveda there are 7 parts of the world, 7 seasons & 7 fortresses. 7 basic musical notes, 7 pheras in a marriage. 7 wonders of the world. And on 7th day of 7th month- Birthday of a top man @msdhoni, #HappyBirthdayDhoni.”