Leaving the world in a state of shock and disbelief, India’s most decorated captain of all time, a man who made mountains move, Mahendra Singh Dhoni called it quits from international cricket in the most reticent fashion on India’s 73rd independence day. With speculations of the Indian wicket-keeping batsman hanging his boots building for a long time now, Dhoni announced it on Insta that his time has come.
In his official Instagram handle, Captain Cool penned, “Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout. From 1929 hrs consider me as Retired”. With the world stuck in the first gear in the midst of this raging pandemic, this was one of the catalysts that probably accelerated Dhoni’s decision of pulling the plug on his glittering international career.
The long-haired lad from Ranchi who made his debut against Bangladesh and went on to whack the Pakistani bowlers in the following series, thereby riveting the attention of the world on him was also the same man who took over the reins of India in the shortest format of the game, a version in which the nation was previously untested.
Without the likes of their best cricketers, it was Dhoni’s intelligence laced with brilliance from the talented bunch that helped India to lift their maiden T-20 World Cup trophy. The biggest highlight of his career came in 2011 when his Reebok willow smashed the telling blow against the Sri Lankans, ending a 28-year wait for India to lift their second World Cup.
He accentuated his heroics as a skipper by notching up the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy when he made a bizarre decision to hand over the ball to a shaken Ishant Sharma, the man who changed the course of the game, dismissing the two-set batsmen at the crease.
His presence of mind against Bangladesh which made India win a dramatic thriller by toppling the Asian stalwarts in T-20 World Cup was of symbolic importance of his ingenious brain as a skipper and his remarkable calm as a leader of a highly talented bunch.
As time elapsed, Dhoni continued with his disarming personality in the Indian ranks that saw the world being enthralled with his heroics behind the stumps, however, his batting dropped by a significant notch.
After playing a heroic inning in the 2019 ICC World Cup semi-final against New Zealand after India’s early landslide, there were speculations that it was almost the end for the Indian skipper. However, no clear-cut communiqué arrived as India continued with Risabh Pant behind the stumps in the frays post the World Cup and saw considerable promise in him.
No matter how good Pant is at the moment, the unfathomable void left by Dhoni in the Indian cricket team is too massive for any other cricketer to fill. We will look at how Twitter hailed the Indian captain for his glittering national career.
The 2011 World Cup win was @sachin_rt farewell but masterminded by MS Dhoni … What an incredible international career … You could argue the greatest ever white ball captain & finisher … Cheers for all the memories MS 👍👍
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 15, 2020
So MS Dhoni wanted to announce his retirement on Independence day.
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) August 15, 2020
The legend retires in his own style as always, @msdhoni bhai you have given it all for the country. The champions trophy triumph, 2011 World Cup and the glorious @ChennaiIPL triumphs will always be etched in my memory. Good luck for all your future endeavours. #MSDhoni
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) August 15, 2020Advertisement
Always Carefree…never careless. Understood the importance of ‘moments’ but never got overawed by them. Redefined wicket keeping….mastered the art of finishing. An end of an era. MSD, one of the finest the world has seen. Or will ever see. Go well 🙌🙏 #MSDhoni
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 15, 2020
News that's just coming in…
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 15, 2020
MS Dhoni has decided to call it quits from international cricket!
DRS has no competition now. #DhoniRetires pic.twitter.com/36QvokVQV2
— The Goan Patiala 6️⃣ (@TheGoanPatiala) August 15, 2020Advertisement
Breaking:
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) August 15, 2020
MS Dhoni has announced retirement from International cricket.
Dhoni posted this on Instagram:
"Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout.from 1929 hrs consider me as Retired"#GoodByeDhoni
BREAKING: @msdhoni announces retirement from international cricket. An era comes to an end.
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 15, 2020
He put up post on Instagram which says, ‘’Thanks. Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout. From 1929 hrs consider me as Retired.” Will play IPL2020 though
MS Dhoni on Instagram: Consider me retired from 19:29 👀 pic.twitter.com/ZEgJL82x3h
— ICC (@ICC) August 15, 2020Advertisement
To have a player like him,Mission Impossible. Na Koi Hai,Na Koi Tha, Na Koi Hoga MS ke jaisa. Players will come & go but there won’t be a calmer man like him. Dhoni with his connect with people having aspirations was like a family member to many cricket lovers. Om Finishaya Namah pic.twitter.com/glemkBUwWT
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 15, 2020
