Former India captain MS Dhoni was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame on Monday, with Ravi Shastri delivering a hilarious tribute to the wicketkeeper-batter.
MS Dhoni Inducted into ICC Hall of Fame with Tribute from Ravi Shastri
Two-time World Cup-winning captain MS Dhoni was officially inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame on Monday. The legendary wicketkeeper-batter, who still plays for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, boasts a remarkable international career spanning 15 years with 90 Tests, 350 ODIs, and 98 T20Is for India. During the ceremony, former India head coach Ravi Shastri delivered a humorous tribute, comparing Dhoni to a “pickpocket” for his lightning-fast hands behind the stumps.
Shastri praised MS Dhoni’s wicketkeeping prowess, noting that having him behind the stumps in a crucial match can completely change the game with a catch or stumping. He joked, “If you’re ever in India, going for a big game, especially in Ahmedabad, you don’t want MS behind you; watch that back. The wallet will disappear.”
Regarded as one of India’s finest captains, Dhoni led India to landmark victories, including the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 and the 2011 ODI World Cup — India’s first in 28 years — where he played a match-winning innings in the final against Sri Lanka at Wankhede Stadium.
Shastri also lauded Dhoni’s calm temperament, highlighting how he remains composed regardless of performance, whether scoring a century or getting out for zero. “He gets out for zero is the same; he wins the World Cup is the same; he gets a hundred the same; and two hundred the same. There is absolutely no difference,” he added.
Dhoni’s record speaks for itself
Under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, India not only achieved landmark white-ball victories but also dominated the Test rankings for 18 months from December 2009. He also led India to a Champions Trophy triumph in the UK in 2013. Dhoni holds the record for captaining India in the most international matches, cementing his status as one of the greatest leaders in cricket history.
Regarded as a white-ball legend, Dhoni was named in the ICC’s ODI and T20I Teams of the Decade in 2019. In Tests, he scored 4,876 runs across 90 matches at an average of 38.08, along with 256 catches and 38 stumpings. In ODIs, he amassed 10,773 runs at an impressive average of 50.57, while in T20Is, he registered 1,617 runs at 37.60.
Behind the stumps, Dhoni’s lightning-fast hands resulted in 157 stumpings and 378 catches across both ODI and T20 formats, showcasing his exceptional skills as a wicketkeeper.