An inspiring cricketing legend, a guru for the young cricketers, and an obsession for cricket lovers, MS Dhoni has officially retired from test match cricket. He left international test cricket without any farewell test match or any press conference regarding his test retirement, not even a speech. He left just like that, without any drama, without any spotlight on him. Is it shocking? Not if you know Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
[quote_center]His ODI debut was in 2004 against Bangladesh at Chittagong. The following year he debuted in test match cricket against Sri Lanka at Chennai [/quote_center]
Dhoni was born in a small village called Jharkhand and during his early days was a ticket inspector for the Indian Railway. He belonged to a typical middle class Indian family and grew up with morals of the general people. His fame and glory did not change his moral roots. An example might be his recent comment regarding the recent clashes between his team mates and Australian team where he said, cricketers shouldnât behave in a manner they wouldnât want the kids to see. All this lavish glamour and blitz could not spoil the small town boy. He retired as one of the most cool headed and humble cricketers of all time.
[quote_right]A player to remember, MS Dhoni played his last test cricket match of his international career in a match against the mighty Australians, on the 24th of December, 2014 at Melbourne, Australia [/quote_right]
One of the most interesting things about him is the fact that was never chasing records or milestones in his entire career. Dhoni had 90 test centuries and he was just 10 short of 100, something that very few Indians have achieved till date. He could just play a few more test matches to reach that benchmark, but he decided not to. It was something that didnât matter. He was playing for the national team because the national team needed him, it was not for his personal fame or his personal achievements, he was never playing to set records or he never meant to seal his name in the record books. He was simply serving his country.
The career of this aspiring cricketer started when he was selected in the Junior Cricket team in Bihar in 1998, during this time he got his chance in the Under 19 team of Bihar. He rose to the Bihar Cricket team and then Jharkhand cricket team. One of his big breakthrough was when he got selected in the Indian A team during 2003-2004. Serving as the wicket keeper he managed to get 7 catches and 4 stumps against the Zimbabwe XI team along with a Half Century. In also scored 2 back to back centuries in that series. His ODI debut was in 2004 against Bangladesh at Chittagong. The following year he debuted in test match cricket against Sri Lanka at Chennai.
Dhoni overtook Rahul Dravid for captaincy in 2007 and that was it, India had gotten their most successful captain of all time. Under his captaincy India achieved the top spot in all cricket formats. India got the No.1 Test ranking for 18 months starting December 2009. India also won the 50-over World Cup in 2011 and the World Twenty20 in 2007.
Some overview of his best innings (taken from ESPNcricinfo)
183 v Sri Lanka, Jaipur, 2005-06
Sri Lanka set India a formidable 299 to win, and India lose Tendulkar in the first over. But Dhoni, promoted to No. 3, plunders 183 off 145 balls, and takes India to victory with 23 balls to spare. His innings includes 15 fours and 10 sixes, and it is the highest score by a wicketkeeper, the highest individual score batting second, and it has the highest number of runs scored in boundaries at the time.
148 v Pakistan, Visakhapatman, 2004-05
Dhoni is playing his fifth ODI and walks in at No. 3 after Sachin Tendulkar has fallen in the fourth over. The pitch is flat, and Dhoni cashes in in a spectacular manner. He scores his maiden ODI century, 148 off 123 balls with 15 fours and four sixes, and by the time heâs done Virender Sehwagâs 74 off 40 balls has been overshadowed. It is the highest score by an Indian wicketkeeper â barring Rahul Dravid â and by the time Dhoni is out, India are 289 for 4 in the 42nd over. Â
148 v Pakistan, Faisalabad 2005-06
After Pakistan have scored 588 in the first innings, India are in danger of conceding a massive first-innings lead after losing their top five for 281. Dhoni disregards the match situation, matched fire with fire, and what follows is a breathless knock that kills any chances of a result in the Test. A fired-up Shoaib Akhtar steams in and peppers Dhoni with a barrage of short balls, but Dhoni responds with a thrilling counterattack, hooking and pulling with aggression that almost approaches recklessness. He hits four sixes and 19 fours in his innings for 148, which take him only 153 balls. By the time he is out, India trail by only 97 runs.
[quote_center]Sri Lanka set India a formidable 299 to win, and India lose Tendulkar in the first over. But Dhoni, promoted to No. 3, plunders 183 off 145 balls, and takes India to victory with 23 balls to spare [/quote_center]
76 v England at Lordâs, 2007
This is perhaps Dhoniâs most valuable innings, for it helps India avoid impending defeat and provides the turnaround for a historic series victory in England. He has played an atrocious shot to get out for a duck in the first innings, and is the last of Indiaâs recognised batsmen, when at 145 for 5 India need to bat for more than two sessions to save the Test. He adds 86 for the sixth wicket with VVS Laxman who gets out with India on 231 for 6. Dhoni rides his luck, survives several edges and bats for 159 balls for his 76. He keeps losing partners, but manages to hang on with Sreesanth, the No 11, until the rain, which has threatened to arrive all day, finally does and ends the Test.
Some of Dhoniâs achievements include the ICC ODI Player of the Year award for the year 2008 and 2009. ICC World ODI XI for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, ICC World Test XI for the year 2009, 2010, and 2013, LG Peopleâs Choice Award for the year 2013, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Indiaâs highest honour given for achievement in sports for 2007â08. Over that he also received an Honorary doctorate degree from De Montfort University in August 2011.
A player to remember, MS Dhoni played his last test cricket match of his international career in a match against the mighty Australians, on the 24th of December, 2014 at Melbourne, Australia.
A Silent Goodbye to Test Cricket: MSÂ Dhoni An inspiring cricketing legend, a guru for the young cricketers, and an obsession for cricket lovers, MS Dhoni has officially retired from test match cricket.
