Mahendra Singh Dhoni announces retirement from International Cricket

Former Indian Cricket team captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni aka MS Dhoni, on August 15, announced his retirement from international cricket. Dhoni took to Instagram to share the message and this has left the fans in shock. He released a video with the message, "Thanks. Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout. From 1929 hrs consider me as Retired.”

Following Dhoni, another renowned Indian cricketer Suresh Raina announced his retirement from international cricket. He too shared the message on Instagram, which read, "It was nothing but lovely playing with you, @mahi7781. With my heart full of pride, I choose to join you in this journey. Thank you India. Jai Hind!"

After a good performance in the IPL, fans were expecting Dhoni's return to the Indian team. However, the suspension of the IPL had raised concerns among Dhoni's fans. But Dhoni had flown to Chennai from Ranchi to play in the IPL in the UAE. But now, Indian cricket fans have been waiting for Mahendra Singh Dhoni to come on the field. 

He retired from Test cricket in 2014 and instrumental in helping India win the first T20 World Cup in 2007.

Here's some trivia and achievements of MS Dhoni

Awards:

• ICC ODI Player of the Year: 2008, 2009
• Padma Shri - 2009.
• Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna - 2007-08
• Honorary doctorate degree by De Montfort University - August 2011
• Padma Bhushan - 2018.

Test match records:

• The team topped the Test cricket rankings for the first time in 2009, under his captaincy
• Most successful Indian Test captain with 27 Test wins
• First Indian wicket-keeper to complete 4,000 test runs
• A score of 224 against Australia  - Third-highest score by an Indian captain.
• Ranks first in the all-time dismissals list by Indian wicket-keepers with 294 dismissals

T-20I Records:

• Scored 1617 runs at an average of 37.6 while scoring just 2 half-centuries (98 T-20 international matches)

T20I Cricket:

• Most wins - 41
• Most matches as captain - 72
• Most dismissals as wicket-keeper - 87
• Most consecutive innings without a duck - 84
• Most catches as wicket-keeper - 54
• Scored more than 17,000 runs in all formats of international cricket (16 centuries and 130 half-centuries)

Test Match records:

• Played 90 test matches and scored 4,876 runs (144 innings - 6 centuries, 33 half-centuries, and average of 38)
• Highest score in the test match: 224 (against Australia)

T-20I Records:

• Played 98 T-20 international matches while scoring just 2 half-centuries (Scored 1617 runs, Average: 37.6)