- Nasima Akter
Fans Celebrated MS Dhoni's Birthday with Giant Cut-Outs
The Indian cricket legend, MS Dhoni, has turned 42, and fans all over the country are celebrating his special day in various ways. Many people are taking this opportunity to look back on some of the incredible moments that the iconic wicketkeeper-batsman has brought to Indian cricket, both at the international level and in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). However, some fans have gone above and beyond to express their love and admiration for Dhoni.
Just before his birthday, images started to circulate showing enormous cut-outs of Dhoni in Hyderabad and Nandigama, Andhra Pradesh. The cut-out in Hyderabad stands an impressive 52 feet tall, while the one in Nandigama is an astonishing 77 feet tall. The Hyderabad cut-out portrays Dhoni in his Indian cricket team jersey, while the Nandigama cut-out features him in the CSK training kit. Additionally, a video surfaced showing milk being poured over the Nandigama cut-out, adding a special touch to the celebration.
MS Dhoni is widely recognized as one of the greatest captains in the history of Indian cricket and one of the most successful captains in limited-overs cricket overall. He is the only captain to have won all three major white-ball tournaments organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC): the T20 World Cup, the ODI World Cup, and the Champions Trophy. His captaincy journey began in 2007 when he led India to victory in the T20 World Cup, his first-ever assignment as captain. Four years later, he achieved another milestone by guiding India to their second-ever ODI World Cup triumph in 2011. Under his leadership, India also secured their first outright victory in a Champions Trophy final in 2013, after having shared the title with Sri Lanka in 2002. In addition to his success in limited-overs cricket, Dhoni played a pivotal role in elevating India to the top of the Test rankings for the first time in 2009.
Furthermore, Dhoni's impact extends to the IPL, where he is considered a legendary figure. Since the inaugural season, he has been the captain of the Chennai Super Kings, leading the team to a record five IPL titles. He currently shares the record for the most title wins as a captain in the T20 league with Rohit Sharma of the Mumbai Indians. Remarkably, Dhoni has steered CSK past the league stage of the tournament in all but two seasons, showcasing his exceptional leadership skills.
Dhoni is renowned for his ability to finish matches, earning him the title of one of the greatest finishers in limited-overs cricket history. Throughout his career, he played 90 Test matches before retiring from the format abruptly in 2014. During this time, he scored 4,876 runs, including six centuries and 33 fifties, at an average of 38.09. His 294 dismissals as a wicketkeeper in Test cricket are the highest by an Indian and the fifth-highest overall, surpassed only by Mark Boucher, Adam Gilchrist, Ian Healy, and Rodney Marsh.
In One-Day Internationals (ODIs), Dhoni amassed 10,773 runs in 350 matches at an impressive average of 50.57. His ODI career includes 10 centuries and 73 half-centuries, solidifying his reputation as a consistent performer. Additionally, Dhoni represented India in 98 T20 Internationals, where he scored 1,617 runs at a strike rate of 126.13, including two half-centuries.
As MS Dhoni celebrates his 42nd birthday, fans across India continue to honor his remarkable contributions to the sport. From his unparalleled success as a captain to his unforgettable finishes and record-breaking achievements, Dhoni's legacy in Indian cricket is etched in history. His impact on the game will be remembered and cherished by fans for generations to come.
