A post popped up on Dhoni’s Instagram account ahead of the 2020 Indian Premier League season, and it took the Internet by storm.
“Thanks – Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout.from 1929 hrs consider me as Retired,” he wrote in caption along with images from his glittering career.
Dhoni, who had retired from Test cricket in 2014, chose to quit international cricket altogether while still making himself available to play the IPL for Chennai Super Kings.
A few minutes after Dhoni’s Instagram post the same day, August 15th 2020, his India team-mate and close friend Suresh Raina followed in the footsteps of his skipper into the sunset of his international career.
Dhoni left behind a legacy for his successors, having won all ICC silverware by winning the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, the 2013 Champions Trophy as well as the Test mace.
(A collage of MS Dhoni with the T20, ODI and Champions Trophy silverware – Agency photos)
He played 90 Tests, 350 ODIs and 98 T20Is, scoring 4876, 10773 and 1617 runs respectively. His tally of runs in international cricket included 16 centuries, besides his monumental contribution as a wicketkeeper.
Raina, who played 18 Tests, 226 ODIs and 78 T20Is, was part of Dhoni-led teams that won the ODI World Cup and the Champions Trophy.