MS Dhoni’s Priceless Reaction to ICC Hall of Fame Induction
Legendary former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has officially joined the ICC Hall of Fame, becoming the 11th Indian to earn this coveted distinction. The announcement, made on June 9, 2025, at a ceremony held at London’s iconic Abbey Road Studios, placed Dhoni among an illustrious group of seven inductees including Matthew Hayden, Hashim Amla, Graeme Smith, Daniel Vettori, Sana Mir, and Sarah Taylor
“It is an honour to be named in the ICC Hall of Fame…”
Dhoni expressed profound gratitude, saying it was “something I will cherish forever” m.economictimes.com+5bcci.tv+5outlookindia.com+5.
The Hall of Fame, established in 2009, recognizes global cricketing excellence across generations indiatimes.com+5icc-cricket.com+5bcci.tv+5.
Alongside Dhoni, global greats such as Hayden, Amla, Smith, Vettori, Sana Mir, and Sarah Taylor were honoured m.economictimes.com+6bcci.tv+6indiatimes.com+6.
Dhoni’s Remarkable Career in Numbers
- Matches: 538 international appearances spanning Tests, ODIs, and T20Is en.wikipedia.org+2hindustantimes.com+2outlookindia.com+2.
- Runs: Amassed 17,266 runs, including:
- → 10,773 runs in ODIs at an average of 50.57 timesofindia.indiatimes.com+7en.wikipedia.org+7icc-cricket.com+7.
- Wicketkeeping:
- 829 dismissals – comprising 634 catches and 195 stumpings bcci.tv+12en.wikipedia.org+12hindustantimes.com+12.
- Ranks as the third most successful wicketkeeper in international cricket m.economictimes.com+6en.wikipedia.org+6timesofindia.indiatimes.com+6.
- Captaincy: Led India to historic success across white-ball formats:
- T20 World Cup 2007
- ICC ODI World Cup 2011
- Champions Trophy 2013
- The only captain to win all three white-ball ICC titles outlookindia.comm.economictimes.com+6bcci.tv+6outlookindia.com+6.
- Trophies & Milestones:
- Led India to No. 1 Test ranking in 2009.
- Scored a phenomenal 148 vs Pakistan in his 5th Test in Faisalabad.
- Played key innings in finals and under pressure outlookindia.com+7hindustantimes.com+7icc-cricket.com+7.
Career Highlights & Heroic Moments
- Memorable Debut Setback, Instant Recovery:
- Debuted on 23 December 2004 against Bangladesh, dismissed for a duck.
- Bounced back with a masterful 148 vs Pakistan in Visakhapatnam in April 2005 hindustantimes.com.
- Leadership & Captaincy Brilliance:
- Promoted to T20 captain in 2007, leading to a sensational World Cup win in South Africa outlookindia.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2icc-cricket.com+2.
- Ended India’s 28-year ODI World Cup drought in 2011—finishing with an iconic unbeaten 91 in the Mumbai final bcci.tv+8hindustantimes.com+8outlookindia.com+8.
- Added the Champions Trophy in 2013, completing a unique ICC sweep timesofindia.indiatimes.com+4hindustantimes.com+4bcci.tv+4.
- Finisher Extraordinaire & Stumpings Wizard:
- Known for the “helicopter shot,” demon finishing, and gob-smacking reflexes behind the stumps en.wikipedia.org+1bcci.tv+1.
- Holds record as fastest wicketkeeper Type: most dismissals (829), top catches (634), and 195 stumpings en.wikipedia.org.
Recognition & Tributes
- BCCI Congratulates Dhoni:
- The Board of Control for Cricket in India extended its felicitations following the induction m.economictimes.com+11bcci.tv+11timesofindia.indiatimes.com+11.
- Ravi Shastri’s Tribute:
- Former coach hailed Dhoni as “faster than a pickpocket,” celebrating his lightning glove work timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
ICC Ceremony & Hall of Fame Integrity
- Abbey Road Studios Event: Hosted on June 9 in London to induct the 2025 class bcci.tv+4icc-cricket.com+4timesofindia.indiatimes.com+4.
- ICC Chair Jay Shah said the Hall honours “the finest players the game has seen … whose careers shaped cricket’s legacy” bcci.tv+2icc-cricket.com+2outlookindia.com+2.
- Dhoni’s induction reaffirms his status as a generational talent and one of the world’s greatest cricketers timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Legacy Beyond the Numbers
- Dhoni revolutionised wicketkeeping standards, blending traditional skills with modern innovation .
- His calm, composed leadership—earning him the moniker “Captain Cool”—reshaped India’s approach under pressure en.wikipedia.org+1latestly.com+1.
- Mentored future stars, influenced team culture, and became a template for clutch batting and tactical brilliance .
The Numbers Behind the Legend
| Format | Matches | Runs | Avg | Catches | Stumpings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 90 | 4,876 | 38.08 | 256 | 38 |
| ODI | 350 | 10,773 | 50.57 | 321 | 123 |
| T20I | 98 | 1,617 | 37.60 | 57 | 34 |
- Total International Matches: 538
- Total Dismissals: 829
- Total Runs: 17,266 timesofindia.indiatimes.com+12en.wikipedia.org+12outlookindia.com+12
What’s Next?
- Dhoni, part of IPL’s Chennai Super Kings, remains active and influential in franchise cricket.
- His Hall of Fame induction caps a storied career—though many expect him to remain involved in Indian cricket behind the scenes.
- With this honour, Dhoni joins an elite group of cricket legends, ensuring his legacy endures for generations.
Final Thoughts
MS Dhoni’s induction into the ICC Hall of Fame is more than a personal triumph—it’s a tribute to his transformations of Indian cricket across formats. From humble beginnings to captaincy greatness and match-winning heroics, Dhoni’s journey has inspired millions. As he joins other legends in the Hall of Fame, fans and teammates alike celebrate a career defined by calm logic, explosive brilliance, and unwavering leadership. Truly, “Captain Cool” has claimed his place among cricket’s immortals.