Former India captain MS Dhoni is among the latest cricketers to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.

Legendary Indian cricketer MS Dhoni has been officially inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, honouring a stellar career that spanned over 16 years. Dhoni’s record speaks volumes: 17,266 international runs, 829 dismissals, and 538 appearances across formats for India. As a wicketkeeper-batsman and captain, Dhoni revolutionized the game with his unique style, composed leadership, and historic accomplishments including being the only captain to win all three ICC men’s white-ball titles.

A TRIBUTE TO A TRANSFORMATIVE CAREER

Reacting to the prestigious honour, Dhoni expressed his gratitude:

> "It is an honour to be named in the ICC Hall of Fame, which recognises the contributions of cricketers across generations and from all over the world. To have your name remembered alongside such all-time greats is a wonderful feeling. It is something that I will cherish forever."

FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO GLOBAL ICON

Dhoni’s international journey began in 2004, with an ODI debut that ended in a duck. However, it didn’t take long for him to announce his arrival. In April 2005, he smashed a breathtaking 148 off 123 balls against Pakistan in Visakhapatnam. Later that year, he followed it up with an unbeaten 183 against Sri Lanka in Jaipur, which still stands as the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper in men's ODIs and, at the time, the highest score in a successful run chase.

A CAPTAIN LIKE NO OTHER

In 2007, Dhoni was handed the captaincy for the inaugural ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Leading a youthful Indian side, he inspired them to a famous title win, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan in a gripping final.

Dhoni’s leadership prowess extended into the longest format as well. Under his captaincy, India reached the No.1 spot in the ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings for the first time in December 2009. His highest Test score, 224 against Australia in Chennai (2013), was a defining knock in a commanding Indian victory.

ODI RECORDS AND UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS

Dhoni holds several remarkable ODI records:

Fastest player to reach No.1 in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings (in just his 40th match)

Most stumpings in ODIs (123)

Most matches as India’s ODI captain (200)

Perhaps the defining moment of his career came in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup final, where he famously promoted himself to No. 5 and anchored the chase with an unbeaten knock, finishing the match  and sealing the title with an iconic six over long-on. This victory ended India’s 28-year wait for a World Cup.

COMPLETING THE ICC TROPHY TREBLE

In 2013, Dhoni etched his name in cricketing history by leading India to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy, becoming the only captain to win all three ICC men’s white-ball titles the T20 World Cup (2007), ODI World Cup (2011), and Champions Trophy (2013).

His final international appearance came during the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, marking the end of an illustrious era.

REDEFINING THE WICKETKEEPER-BATSMAN ROLE

Dhoni’s unorthodox wicketkeeping techniques and lightning-fast reflexes redefined the role of a keeper in modern cricket. With his power-hitting ability and composure under pressure, he reshaped expectations of the wicketkeeper-batsman role  traditionally seen as a lower-order stabilizer into that of a game-changer.

Notable Test performances like his 148 in Faisalabad and a vital 76 at Lord’s\, which helped India to a rare series win in England, showcased his adaptability across conditions and formats.

A LASTING LEGACY

Sinche retirednt from international cricket in 2020, Dhoni’s legacy has only grown stronger. His impact on Indian cricket both as a player and a leader  is unparalleled. Now, with his induction into the ICC Hall of Fame, his contributions have been permanently etched into the sport's history.