Legendary MS Dhoni has been named as the latest inductee into the ICC Hall of Fame. Dhoni becomes the 11th Indian cricketer to be named in the list. ICC announced the development on June 9, a little less than a month before his 44th birthday.
The award comes nearly 5 years after MS Dhoni’s retirement from international cricket. Dhoni played his final game with India in the semi-final of the 2019 ODI World Cup. After India were knocked out of the competition, Dhoni did not play a single international game for more than a year, before finally calling it a day on August 15, 2020.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, affectionately known as “Captain Cool,” is one of India’s most successful and iconic cricketers. Born on July 7, 1981, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, Dhoni rose to prominence as a wicket-keeper batsman, leading India to historic victories in various international tournaments.
Dhoni made his international debut in 2004 with an ODI against Bangladesh and rapidly established himself as a key player. His talent with the bat was evident from his early innings, notably a 148-run performance against Pakistan in just his fifth international match. Dhoni soon became the captain of the ODI side in 2007 and took over the Test captaincy in 2008.
Under Dhoni’s leadership, India achieved unprecedented success. He led the team to victory in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, the 2011 Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, making him the only captain to win three different ICC limited-overs tournaments. Additionally, he guided India to Asia Cup titles in 2010 and 2016. His leadership and strategic acumen earned him the ICC One Day International Player of the Year Award in 2008 and 2009.
Dhoni’s individual achievements are equally impressive. He is the first Indian wicket-keeper to score 4,000 Test runs and holds records for the most dismissals by an Indian wicket-keeper. In ODIs, Dhoni scored 10,773 runs at an average of 50.57, with 10 centuries and 73 fifties. His ability to perform under pressure and his calm demeanour in high-stakes matches have made him a beloved figure in Indian cricket.
Dhoni retired from international cricket in 2020, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest captains in cricket history. His impact on the Indian cricket team remains profound.
Who are India’s ICC Hall of Fame Inductees?
MS Dhoni became the 11th Indian cricketer to be named in the ICC Hall of Fame. Here are the rest of the players in this elite list.
- MS Dhoni
- Neetu David
- Virender Sehwag
- Daina Edulji
- Vinoo Mankad
- Sachin Tendulkar
- Rahul Dravid
- Anil Kumble
- Kapil Dev\Bishan Singh Bedi
- Sunil Gavaskar
Gavaskar and Bishan Bedi are the oldest ICC Hall of Fame inductees from India. They recieved this honour in 2009.
