MSD @ 44
New Delhi: One of India’s finest cricketers and the ever-reliable ‘captain cool’, MS Dhoni, celebrated his 43rd birthday on July 7, 2024. Known as the most successful captain in Indian cricket history, Dhoni’s leadership and calm demeanor have left an indelible mark on the sport, inspiring countless fans and players alike. Dhoni’s wife, Sakshi, ensured he had a memorable start to his special day with a midnight cake-cutting celebration. In a heartwarming gesture, she touched his feet, and Captain Cool responded by cheekily blessing her.
In a video that went viral on social media, Dhoni is seen cutting the cake and offering the first bite to Sakshi before turning to Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and giving him a piece as well. Salman, who attended the celebration, shared a picture from the special night along with a heartfelt birthday note. “Happy Birthday Kaptaan Sahab! @msdhoni,” Salman captioned the pic.
Former India batter Suresh Raina and India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also wished the ‘captain cool’ on his special day. Taking to his ‘X’ handle, Suresh Raina wrote, “Happy Birthday, Mahi bhai! Wishing you a day as cool as your helicopter shot and as epic as your stumping skills. Have a fantastic one, brotherman.” Similarly, Jadeja shared a throwback picture from the 2023 IPL final, captioning it, “Happy birthday to my only favourite person in cricket.mahi bhai Your presence is the greatest gift.Lots of love.”
Notably, MS Dhoni’s journey is one of the most inspiring in sports history. From a ticket collector at a railway station, he rose to become India’s most successful cricket captain, leading the team to victories in the ICC T20 World Cup 2007, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, and ICC Champions Trophy 2013. Known as Chennai Super Kings’ “Thala,” Dhoni made his international debut in 2004 and evolved from a ferocious hitter to a masterful finisher.
In T20Is, he scored 1,617 runs in 98 matches, while in Tests, he amassed 4,876 runs in 90 matches. As captain, he led India to the top of the ICC Test rankings and whitewashed Australia twice in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Dhoni’s IPL career is equally impressive, with 5,243 runs and five IPL titles with CSK. His leadership and tactical brilliance have left an indelible mark on Indian cricket.
