Mind-Blowing Facts About Mahendra Singh Dhoni Every Fan Should Know

Considered as one of the greatest finisher in One Day Internationals, Mahendra Singh Dhoni nicknamed “Captain Cool” started his career from a small town of Ranchi in Jharkhand. With his unconventional batting skills and quick hands behind the stumps, became captain of the national team within 3 years. One of the greatest minds in the cricket field, he is the only Captain in the world Cricket to have won all the ICC trophies – 2007 World T20, World Cup 2011 and the 2013 Champions Trophy. Here are some interesting facts about MSD:

  1. He was born as Mahendra Singh Pansingh Dhoni on July 7, 1981, in Ranchi in Jharkhand. His Jersey number, while playing for the national Cricket Team is also No 7.
  2. Before making big in Cricket, he excelled in both Football and Badminton. He played at the district level and club level I both the games.
  3. Keshav Bannerjee, his childhood cricket coach, first saw him as a goalkeeper and was impressed by his skill. He urged Dhoni to try wicket-keeping in cricket and the rest is history.
  4. He worked as TTE (Travelling Ticket Examiner) at Kharagpur Station under South Eastern Railway from 2001 to 2003. His friends remember him as a very straightforward but mischievous employee of the Indian Railways.
  5. He developed passion for motorcycles from a very young age and possess an enviable list of two-wheelers. His collection consists of Yamaha RD350, Kawasaki Ninja H2, Ducati 1098, Harley Davidson Fatboy and Hellcat X132.
  6. Dhoni was famous for his “Helicopter Shot” or it can be said that the “Helicopter Shot” became famous because of him. However, it was his friend Santosh Lal, who taught him the shot in a Tennis ball tournament in Ranchi.
  7. He made his One Day International debut playing at No 7, against Bangladesh at Chittagong in 2004. He was run out for a duck in the very first ball he faced.
  8. In only his 5th match, he scored his first ODI hundred by smashing 148 off 123 balls against Pakistan. Promoted to No 3, after losing Sachin Tendulkar very early, he created history by scoring fastest century by an Indian Wicketkeeper.
  9. He has many crazy fans in India and abroad as well but none like the girl in Ranchi who chased Dhoni’s Hummer in her Scooty to the airport to click a selfie with him.
  10. He was selected to play for Central Coal Fields Limited by the coach Deval Sahay in 1998. Sahay would pay Rs. 50/- each for the number of sixers Dhoni hit during the tournament.
  11. Even with his unconventional batting technique he remains the only wicket-keeper batsman to average more than 50 in One Day Internationals.
  12. Under his captaincy, India became the first team in over 40 years to complete a 4-0 whitewash of Australia. M. Vijay was the highest run getter with 430 runs and R. Ashwin became the highest wicket taker with 29 wickets in that series.
  13. He is one among the few wicket-keepers who have bowled and took wickets. His one and only ODI wicket came in 2009 Champions Trophy when he dismissed West Indian Travis Dowlin. His first test wicket was Kevin Peterson of England who used DRS to overturn the decision.
  14. The cricket bat used by Dhoni during the World Cup 2011Final was sold for Rs. 72 Lakhs. The amount was donated to Sakshi Rawat Foundation to help orphan children.