Mahendra Singh Dhoni was born in Ranchi, Jharkhand on July 7, 1981, in a Hindu Rajput family. Dhoni is widely recognized as one of the greatest wicket-keeper-batsmen and captains in cricket history. He played for the Indian cricket team and led the team as captain in limited-overs formats from 2007 to 2017 and in Test cricket from 2008 to 2014.
Dhoni’s captaincy is notable for his success. He has led the team in the most international matches and is the most successful Indian captain, having won three major ICC tournaments.Â
Besides his international career, Dhoni also plays for and captains the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), contributing significantly to the team’s success and winning five IPL Titles.
MS Dhoni Biography
Date of Birth
He was born in Ranchi, Jharkhand, on July 7, 1981, in a Hindu Rajput family.
Dhoni’s Family
MS Dhoni has a close-knit family. Here’s a list of his family members:
- Father: Pan Singh
- Mother: Devaki Devi
- Elder Brother: Narendra Singh Dhoni
- Elder Sister: Jayanti Gupta
- Wife: Sakshi Singh Dhoni
- Daughter: Ziva Singh Dhoni
MS Dhoni Children
MS Dhoni married Sakshi on July 4, 2010. The following year, Dhoni led the Indian cricket team to win the ODI World Cup
Dhoni and Sakshi have a daughter named Ziva Singh Dhoni, born on February 6, 2015. They live in Ranchi in their farmhouse. Dhoni is known for being kind, and his love story with Sakshi is unique and magical. Ziva is their only child, and she often features in the media because of her cute appearances with her dad.
MS Dhoni Trophy Collection
MS Dhoni, one of cricket’s most successful captains, has won several trophies. Here’s a list of the awards he has won, along with the number of times and the years:
- ICC World T20: Won once in 2007.
- ICC Cricket World Cup: Won once in 2011.
- ICC Champions Trophy: Won once in 2013.
- Asia Cup: Won twice, in 2010 and 2016.
- Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Won three times, in 2008, 2010, and 2013.
- ICC Test Mace: Won twice, in 2010 and 2011.
- CB Series: Won once in 2008.
- Indian T20 League: Won five times, in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023.
- Champions League T20: Won twice, in 2010 and 2014.
MS Dhoni’s height in feet
MS Dhoni has the following physical attributes:
- Height (Approximately): 5 feet 9 inches
- Weight (Approximately): 75 kilograms
- Body Measurements (Approximately):
- Chest: 42 inches
- Waist: 32 inches
- Biceps: 14 inches
- Eye Colour: Dark Brown
- Hair Colour: Black
MS Dhoni Childhood
MS Dhoni was born in a small town and grew up with his mother, father, sister, and brother. As a child, he enjoyed football and badminton, playing in school teams. He didn’t start with cricket but was good at football, especially as a goalkeeper.
His football coach saw his skills and suggested he try cricket as a wicketkeeper in a local match. This was the start of his journey in cricket. Dhoni did well in cricket and kept playing as a wicketkeeper. He played in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy U-16 Championship and showed good skills.
But he also focused on his school studies, especially in 10th grade. His father wanted him to study well because of the uncertainty of a sports career.
MS Dhoni Cricket Journey
Beginning of Dhoni’s Cricket Career
After school, Dhoni played for different teams in his state. He also worked for the railway department and practiced cricket in his free time. He was determined to be a cricketer.
He played for the Bihar Junior Team, then the Bihar Team, and later for the Jharkhand State team. His performance kept improving, and he got a chance to play for the India A team. This team went on tours to Zimbabwe and Kenya. Dhoni played very well in these matches.
Dhoni’s International Cricket Career
Dhoni was seen by Rahul Dravid, the coach, and ex-captain of the Indian cricket team because he needed a wicketkeeper who was good at batting in any spot. Dhoni was the right fit for this and became the wicketkeeper for the Indian National Team.
Starting, Dhoni had a tough time. He was out on his first ball and didn’t play well in his first few games. But he kept trying and believed in his skills.
Dhoni’s big moment came in his fifth One Day International match. He scored 148 runs against Pakistan, which was an excellent performance. After this, he got to bat earlier in the games.
Dhoni as Captain of the Indian Cricket Team
In 2007, MS Dhoni became the captain of the Indian cricket team. He led the team to win the T20 World Cup in an exciting final against Pakistan.
As the captain, Dhoni guided the Indian team to win three ICC Tournaments. He is the only captain from India who has won all three of these big tournaments. He was known for changing the game behind stumping, staying calm under pressure, and earning the nickname ‘Captain Cool.’
In 2013, MS Dhoni won the ICC Champions Trophy. 2016, Dhoni became the most experienced captain, breaking Ricky Ponting’s record.
Step Down as a captain
In 2015, Dhoni stepped down as Indian team cricket captain before the England Series, and Virat Kohli took over the captaincy. That same year, Dhoni became the best wicketkeeper, doing over 100 stumpings.
Retirement from International Cricket
Dhoni continued playing for India after he stopped being captain until 2019. MS Dhoni retired from all types of international cricket on August 15, 2020, sharing an emotional video. He retired at 39 years old.
Life Beyond Cricket
Dhoni likes football and supports it. At 35 years old, Dhoni started his lifestyle brand ‘SEVEN’ and became its ambassador. 2016, a movie about his life called ‘MS Dhoni: The Untold Story ‘was released.
Dhoni was also given the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel in the Indian Territorial Army and owned an entertainment house.
Achievements & Records
T20I: Holds records for most matches & wins as a captain and most dismissals as a wicketkeeper.
Test: First captain to make India top in test rankings, first wicketkeeper to score 4000+ runs.
ODI: Holds records for most dismissals by an Indian wicketkeeper and has scored over 10,000+ runs.
MS Dhoni Awards
- Padma Bhushan-2018
- Padma Shri-2009
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award-2007 & 2008
- ICC ODI Player of the year-2008 & 2009
- Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year-2011
Stats of MS Dhoni
Dhoni’s career shows his constant effort to improve. Here are his stats:
| Competition | Test | ODI | T20I |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | 90 | 350 | 98 |
| Runs scored | 4,876 | 10,773 | 1,617 |
| Batting Average | 38.09 | 50.53 | 37.60 |
| 100s/50s | 6/33 | 10/73 | 0/2 |
| Top score | 224 | 183* | 56 |
MS Dhoni’s Total Centuries
 MS Dhoni has scored sixteen (16) centuries in international cricket. He hit 10 centuries in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 6 in Test matches. Dhoni has no century in T20 cricket.
- ODIs-10
- Tests-06
- T20-0
MS Dhoni’s First Love
The Heartbreaking Story of Priyanka Jha
The life of MS Dhoni, India’s celebrated cricket captain, includes a deeply emotional chapter about his first love, Priyanka Jha. This part of his life gained attention through the biopic ‘M.S. Dhoni – The Untold Story‘, a highly anticipated film. Here, we delve into this poignant aspect of Dhoni’s life, which even his most ardent fans may not know.
The Love Story of MS Dhoni and Priyanka Jha
In his early 20s, while rising in the cricket world, MS Dhoni met Priyanka Jha. They fell in love and planned a future together. This relationship was a cornerstone in Dhoni’s life, providing him with emotional support as he worked towards his dream of playing for India.
The Relationship’s Impact on Dhoni
Their relationship was flourishing when Dhoni was selected for the India A squad for the 2003-2004 tour of Zimbabwe and Kenya. During this tour, Dhoni’s remarkable performance of scoring 362 runs in six innings caught the attention of then-Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and interim coach Ravi Shastri. This led to his selection for the ODI squad touring Bangladesh in 2004. Unbeknownst to Dhoni, his personal life was taking a tragic turn back home.
Tragedy Strikes
While Dhoni was focused on his cricket career, a devastating event occurred. Priyanka Jha, the woman he loved and hoped to marry, passed away in a tragic accident in 2002. Dhoni was unaware of this loss until he returned home from the tournament.
Learning of Priyanka’s death was a shattering moment for him, dashing his dreams of their life together. It was a long and challenging journey for Dhoni to recover from this heartbreak, but he emerged with renewed determination.
Dhoni’s Life After the Tragedy
Despite the pain, Dhoni continued to excel in cricket, making and breaking records. In 2010, he married Sakshi Singh Rawat, and they have a daughter named Ziva. However, it is believed that Dhoni holds onto the memories of Priyanka and the time they shared.
The Biopic’s Representation
To bring this story to the screen, director Neeraj Pandey sought Dhoni’s permission, which he granted. In the film, Disha Patani portrays Priyanka Jha, while Kiara Advani plays Sakshi Singh Rawat, Dhoni’s wife. The movie, set for release on September 30, aims to offer a glimpse into this lesser-known chapter of Dhoni’s life.
Famous MS Dhoni Quotes
FAQs About MS Dhoni
1. Fastest Stump-Out by Dhoni?
In 2018, against the West Indies, at age 37.
2. How did Dhoni handle success?
He came from a humble background, valued things, and faced struggles, which helped him stay grounded.
3. Who is the ‘King’ of IPL?
With 104 match victories, Dhoni led his team, the Chennai Super Kings, to win the IPL five times.
4. Who was Priyanka Jha?
Priyanka Jha was MS Dhoni’s girlfriend during his early 20s and a significant figure in his life.
5. How did Priyanka Jha impact Dhoni’s life?
Priyanka was Dhoni’s emotional support as he pursued his cricketing career. Her tragic death deeply affected him.
6. Will the biopic cover this part of Dhoni’s life?
Yes, the biopic ‘M.S. Dhoni – The Untold Story’ includes this aspect, with Disha Patani portraying Priyanka Jha.
