India’s most successful captain MS Dhoni recommended for Padma Bhushan

He has led India to two World Cup titles -- the World Twenty20 in 2007 and the 50-over World Cup in 2011.
India’s most successful captain MS Dhoni recommended for Padma Bhushan
India’s most successful captain MS Dhoni recommended for Padma Bhushan
Written by:

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has nominated veteran star Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the Padma Bhushan, the nation's third highest civilian award.

"Yes, it's confirmed, we have recommended Dhoni's name for the Padma Bhushan," BCCI Acting President CK Khanna told IANS on Wednesday. 

Former captains Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Rahul Dravid and Chandu Borde have received the award earlier. 

Dhoni, who made his international debut in 2004, is the most successful captain for the Indian cricket team. He has led the team to two World Cup titles -- the World Twenty20 in 2007 and the 50-over World Cup in 2011.

Under the 36-year-old's captaincy, India also won the 2013 Champions Trophy besides becoming the top-ranked team in Test cricket. 

He has scored 4,876 runs in 90 Test matches, which includes six centuries and 33 half-centuries. In One-Day Internationals (ODIs) he is the fourth highest scorer for India with 9,739 runs in 302 matches, notching up 10 centuries and 66 half-centuries along the way. 

His record is just as glittering in the Twenty20 (T20) Internationals with 1,212 runs in 78 matches. 

Dhoni had a poor 2016, managing just 278 runs in the calendar year playing 13 matches. He averaged a paltry 27.80.

At the World Twenty20, the Ranchi dasher scored 89 runs in five games with scores reading 30, 13 not out, 13 not out, 18 not out and 15 not out.

But this year, when questions were being raised about whether Dhoni should continue in the limited overs format, the former captain turned it around, by wielding his willlow in style.

Dhoni this year averages 89.57 in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) -- with an aggregate of 627 in 14 innings, including a century and five fifties. 

He is no more the finisher that he once used to be. But at 36, he has taken up the role of the anchor. For the young ones now in India's middle order, he is an on-field mentor as well.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The News Minute
www.thenewsminute.com