Video narration
From Ranchi, Jharkhand, born July 7, 1981, Mahendra Singh Dhoni—“Mahi,” “Captain Cool”—started as a school football goalkeeper. That calm focus carried him to wicketkeeping, and even to a ticket collector job at Kharagpur Railway Station from 2001 to 2003. In 2004, he debuted for India, blasting aggressive runs and the famous helicopter shot. As captain, he led India to the 2007 T20 World Cup, then the 2011 ODI World Cup—finishing with a winning six—and the 2013 Champions Trophy. He retired internationally on August 15, 2020, but kept leading Chennai Super Kings, proving his sharp mind under pressure is his legacy.