Born on July 7, 1981, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, Dhoti's journey to the top was not an easy one. He started his cricketing career as a middle-order batsman and wicket-keeper, playing for his school and local clubs. It was only after he caught the eye of the selectors during the 2004-05 season that he was called up to play for the Indian cricket team.
Dhoti's first major breakthrough came in 2005 when he led India to victory in the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in South Africa. This was the beginning of a golden era for Indian cricket, with Dhoti at the helm of affairs. He soon established himself as one of the most successful captains in the world, leading India to the top of the ICC Test rankings in 2009 and winning the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011.
What sets Dhoti apart from other cricket captains is his ability to remain calm under pressure. He has a reputation for making tactical decisions that have often turned the game in India's favor. His leadership skills were on full display during the 2007 World Twenty20, when he famously handed the ball to an inexperienced Joiner Sharma to bowl the last over of the final against Pakistan.
Dhoti's contribution to Indian cricket goes beyond his leadership skills. He is also an accomplished batsman and wicketkeeper, known for his lightning-fast reflexes and ability to finish games off with his bat. He has scored over 10,000 runs in Odis and over 4,000 runs in Test cricket, with an impressive average in both formats.
Dhoti announced his retirement from international cricket in August 2020, ending a storied career that spanned over 15 years. He leaves behind a legacy that will be hard to match, with numerous records and accolades to his name. He is the only captain in the world to have won all three ICC trophies - the World Cup, World Twenty20, and Champions Trophy.
In addition to his achievements on the field, Dhoti is also known for his humility and grounded nature. He has always been a team player, putting the needs of the team above his personal achievements. He is an inspiration to millions of aspiring cricketers in India and around the world.
In conclusion, Mahendra Singh Dhoti is a true legend of the game, a cricketer who has left an indelible mark on Indian cricket. He will always be remembered for his calm leadership, tactical acumen, and ability to rise to the occasion when it mattered the most.
The MA Stadium has experienced a massive revamp and there's a plenitude of buff to it, but for a platoon that sets bottom on it to take on the Super lords, it hasn’t changed much. The so-called ‘ knowledgeable crowd ’, which generally appreciates a good battle and noway shies down from indeed saluting opposition players, has made the venue an intimidating bone for visiting brigades.
Lucknow Super titans felt it right through Monday evening. When Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway got them off to a supersonic launch, the hisses refused to die down. Or so you allowed. But as he smashed a six off Mark Wood’s 149 kmph – evocative of the one-off Nuwan Kulasekhara at the Wanked on April 2, 2011 – it reached a top.
Surely, it can’t get louder than this? A ball latterly, you had the answer as Wood transferred in a bouncer – a delivery that has troubled a lot of batters around the world — wide off refuse, and the 41- time-old Dhoti, deposited way into the daises with a pull. Off the coming, Dhoti decomposed, but the 000 suckers had got what they had paid for.
CSK beat Lucknow Super titans by 12 runs at home, but Dhoti wasn't regaled with the wayward bowling as his side sailed three no-balls and 13 wide, though LSG was in the end confined to 205 for 7 while chasing 218.
It’s good to see what he’s done with the occasion. Bush (Ravi Bishop) also did veritably well. It’s good to see different players putting their hands up to give us the stylish chance to win the game, and that’s a commodity for us to take forward in the event.