This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

PHOTOS: India's Beloved Cricket Captain Hangs His Test Boots

PHOTOS: India's Beloved Cricket Captain Hangs His Test Boots
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - APRIL 07: MS Dhoni of India holds the series trophy after day five of the Third Test match between New Zealand and India at the Basin Reserve on April 7, 2009 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Marty Melville/Getty Images)
Marty Melville via Getty Images
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - APRIL 07: MS Dhoni of India holds the series trophy after day five of the Third Test match between New Zealand and India at the Basin Reserve on April 7, 2009 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Marty Melville/Getty Images)

Two World Cup titles, No. 1 Test rankings, most number of wins under his belt but on the flip side, a spate of overseas Test losses, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's tenure at the helm of India's cricket captaincy was nothing short of a roller-coaster ride. The 33-year-old cricketer from Ranchi, who gave small town boys a chance to dream big, today surprised the cricket world with his sudden announcement of immediate retirement from Test cricket, making way for Virat Kohli to don the mantle of captaincy.

It all started for him with the 2007 World T20, and that was followed by a dream run in ODIs and Tests too, as he presided over India's rise to the pinnacle of Test cricket from 2009-11. Here are some snapshots from his life.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni poses with the trophy in the backdrop of the Gateway of India monument in Mumbai, India, Sunday, April 3, 2011. Dhoni lofted Sri Lanka's Nuwan Kulasekara for the winning six against Sri Lanka, leading India to the six-wicket victory at the Wankhede Stadium, when Dhoni anchored the run chase with his knock of 91. India won the Cricket World Cup for the first time in 28 years. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni poses with the trophy in the backdrop of the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, India, Sunday, April 3, 2011. Dhoni lofted Sri Lanka's Nuwan Kulasekara for the winning six against Sri Lanka, leading India to the six-wicket victory at the Wankhede Stadium, when Dhoni anchored the run chase with his knock of 91. India won the Cricket World Cup for the first time in 28 years. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, seen with the Champions Trophy, during a press conference ahead of the Champions Trophy Cricket tournament in Johannesburg, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)
Gallo Images via Getty Images
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - SEPTEMBER 24: Captain MS Dhoni with cork in mouth and Trophy in hand sprays his teammates as India celebrate their Victory during the final match of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup between Pakistan and India held at the Wanderers Cricket Stadium on September 24, 2007 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Gallo Images via Getty Images
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - SEPTEMBER 24: , MS Dhoni and India celebrate their Victory during the final match of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup between Pakistan and India held at the Wanderers Cricket Stadium on September 24, 2007 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Indian cricket Twenty 20(T20) captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, right, holds the trophy for T20 World Cup alongwith Board of Control for Cricket in India President Sharad Pawar, left, at a ceremony where the Indian T20 team was felicitated in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007. (AP Photo/Gautam Singh)
SAJJAD HUSSAIN via Getty Images
Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (R) and wife Sakshi Singh Rawat attend a tea party at the Governor's House in Mumbai on April 3, 2011. India won the Cricket World Cup for the first time since 1983 with a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka on April 2. AFP PHOTO / Sajjad HUSSAIN (Photo credit should read SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images)
The India Today Group via Getty Images
MUMBAI, INDIA Â APRIL 03: M.S. Dhoni along with wife Sakshi during a reception hosted by President Pratibha Patil, at Rajbhavan in Mumbai on Sunday, April 3, 2011. India beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the final.(Photo by Mandar Deodhar/India Today Group/Getty Images)
Mail Today via Getty Images
MUMBAI, INDIA - NOVEMBER 07: Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni and his wife Sakshi Rawat during India first FIM World Superbike Championship team in Mumbai on Wednesday. (Photo by Yogen Shah/India Today Group/Getty Images)
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
NEW DELHI, INDIA - JUNE 17: Indian Cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni with his wife Sakshi at an exhibition indoor football match at the Pepsi T20 Football finale on June 17, 2012 in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Manoj Verma/ Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Newly married Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his wife Sakshi arrive at the airport in Calcutta, India, Thursday, July 8, 2010.(AP Photo)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Newly married Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his wife Sakshi wave to the crowd from the balcony of their home in Ranchi, India, Wednesday, July 7, 2010. Dhoni is celebrating his 29th birthday Wednesday. (AP Photo/Sasanka Sen)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, right, is hugged by his wife Sakshi after his team's win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League final cricket match in Chennai, India, Saturday, May 28, 2011. Chennai won by 58 runs. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, right, is hugged by his wife Sakshi after his team's win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League final cricket match in Chennai, India, Saturday, May 28, 2011. Chennai won by 58 runs. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni smiles during a practice session ahead of their fifth ODI match against Sri Lanka in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Friday, Aug 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
Gareth Copley via Getty Images
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JULY 13: Mahendra Singh Dhoni of India after drawing the 1st Investec Test match between England and India at Trent Bridge on July 13, 2014 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni tosses a ball during a training session in Bangalore, India, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012. New Zealand and India will play their second test match of the series beginning Aug. 31 in Bangalore. India leads the series 1-0. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Gareth Copley via Getty Images
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 02: Mahendra Singh Dhoni of India after winning the 4th Royal London One Day International match between England and India at Edgbaston on September 2, 2014 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
PAUL ELLIS via Getty Images
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is interviewed after victory in the fourth One-Day International (ODI) cricket match between England and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England, on September 2, 2014. India won the game by nine wickets and win the series. AFP PHOTO /PAUL ELLIS - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, center, with teammate India's Virat Kohli, left, waves in the players pavilion as the match is stopped due to bad light during first day of their cricket test match against South Africa at Kingsmead stadium, Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. (AP Photo/ Themba Hadebe)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
India's cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni speaks during the launching of the Tri-Nation cricket tournament in Kingston, Jamaica, Thursday, June 27, 2013. The series between India, Sri Lanka and West Indies starts on Friday. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
India's cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni gestures to teammates during their training session at Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013. India will play their One Day International cricket match against South Africa on Thursday. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
India's captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni walks off the field of play after losing his wicket off the bowling of England's James Anderson during the fifth and final day of the third cricket Test match of the series between England and India at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England, Thursday, July 31, 2014. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.