One of the best finishers, the modern cricket has ever witnessed, the man with cool head and aggressive tactics, the master strategist, the “Captain Cool” Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been a truly inspiring figure and has provided Indian cricket with some stunning moments in the last decade. Let us look at some of his lesser known facts.
#1 Mahendra Singh Dhoni was born on July 7, 1981 in the eastern city of Ranchi and was his school goalkeeper before he took to cricket. He represented District and Club in both Football and Badminton games. It was his Football coach who appointed him to the cricket team as the regular wicket keeper was injured. Luck! isn’t it?
#2 Dhoni was a Train Ticket Examiner (TTE) at Kharagpur railway station from 2001 to 2003, under South Eastern Railway in Midnapore (W), a district in West Bengal. His colleagues remember him as a very honest, straightforward employee of the Indian Railways. But he also had a mischievous side to his personality. Once, while staying at the railway quarters, Dhoni and a couple of his friends covered themselves in white bedsheets and walked around in the complex late in the night. The night guards were fooled into believing that there were ghosts moving around in the complex. The story made big news on the next day.
#3 M S Dhoni has recieved Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India’s highest honour given for achievement in sports, 2007–08. And Honorary doctorate degree by De Montfort University in August 2011.
#4 M S Dhoni was famous for his stylish golden locks, which he has shortened now. Pervez Musharraf, then President of Pakistan, advised him not to change his hair and revealed that he was a fan of his hairstyle.
#5 Along with Sahara India Pariwar, Dhoni is also a co-owner of Ranchi-based Hockey club Ranchi Rays, a franchise of the Hockey India League
#6 Along with Abhishek Bachchan and Vita Dani, Dhoni is also a co-owner of Chennai-based Football club Chennaiyin FC, a franchise of the Indian Super League.
#7 Dhoni’s interest in bikes is well known and often discussed in media. He has co-parternered Akkineni Nagarjuna in buying a Supersport World Championship team Mahi Racing Team India.
#8 A biographical film based on the life of Dhoni, titled M. S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, is set to be released in 2015. The film features Sushant Singh Rajput playing the role of Dhoni. The film is directed by Neeraj Pandey and produced by Rhiti Sports Management, a company that manages Dhoni’s commercial interests.
#9 Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the lone Indian sportsman to figure on Forbes list of world’s 100 highest paid athletes. Dhoni is ranked 22nd on the list with total earnings of $30 million, or nearly Rs. 177 crore, and endorsements worth $26 million, or nearly Rs. 153 crore. His salary and winnings total $4 million, or Rs. 23.6 crore, as of June 2014, Forbes said.
#10 Dhoni was conferred with the honorary rank of Lt Colonel by the Indian Territorial Army in November 2011. Dhoni has, time and again, iterated that he would like to play some role in the Army in the future.
What a personality he is! We wish him luck to entertain us few more years with the bat. All the best, Mahi!
Source- Wikipedia, image sources- reuters, PTI, AFP, AP
