Captain Cool who led India to World Cup glory in 2011. Known for his composure, Dhoni made headlines when he broke character and stormed onto the field during an IPL match to argue with umpires.
18 incidents documented
Chennai Super Kings
May 2025
MS Dhoni's continued IPL appearances in 2025, despite being in his mid-40s, reduced to hitting sixes and taking wickets in the final overs, turned every CSK match into a collective national emotional rollercoaster — the entire country both desperate for him to retire gracefully and furious at the thought of it.
India vs New Zealand
10 July 2019
MS Dhoni's run out by Martin Guptill's direct hit in the World Cup semi-final was upheld by the third umpire after a close review that many felt could have gone either way.
New Zealand vs India
9-10 July 2019
The rain-delayed 2019 World Cup semi-final produced multiple DRS controversies, with several New Zealand batsmen surviving LBW decisions on umpire's call. India felt numerous decisions went against them. New Zealand won by 18 runs.
Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals
11 April 2019
MS Dhoni walked onto the field from the dugout to argue with umpires over a no-ball call that was reversed, in an unprecedented act for the usually calm captain.
India vs Various
2019-06-16
MS Dhoni's stump microphone picked up his constant instructions, tactical chatter, and hilarious commentary from behind the stumps, entertaining fans worldwide.
India vs New Zealand
2017-10-25
MS Dhoni was caught on stump mic directing Kuldeep Yadav ball-by-ball, essentially captaining from behind the stumps and predicting exactly what the batsman would do.
India vs Bangladesh
2012-03-16
After waiting 12 agonizing innings to reach the milestone, Sachin Tendulkar became the first player in history to score 100 international centuries — an achievement that is statistically the most distant landmark from any other player in cricket.
England vs Australia
21-25 July 2011
Ian Bell was run out in bizarre circumstances when he assumed the ball was dead at the tea break, only for India to appeal and the umpires to give him out. MS Dhoni later withdrew the appeal.
India vs Sri Lanka
2 April 2011
Sachin Tendulkar survived an LBW decision via DRS review in the 2011 World Cup Final, with ball tracking showing the ball just missing the stumps.
India vs Pakistan
30 March 2011
Yuvraj Singh was given not out on a plumb LBW appeal during India's chase in the 2011 World Cup semi-final. He went on to contribute a crucial innings and India won by 29 runs, progressing to win the World Cup.
India vs Sri Lanka
2 April 2011
Former Sri Lankan sports minister alleged that the 2011 World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka was fixed, triggering an investigation by Sri Lanka Cricket and the ICC.
India vs Sri Lanka
2011-04-02
MS Dhoni promoted himself up the batting order and hit Nuwan Kulasekara for six over long-on to win India's second World Cup — the first on home soil, 28 years after the 1983 win. The moment fulfilled a nation's dream and carried the weight of Sachin Tendulkar's final World Cup.
India vs Pakistan
2011-03-30
India beat Pakistan by 29 runs in the 2011 World Cup semi-final at Mohali — the most watched cricket match in history, televised to an estimated 988 million viewers globally, with both Prime Ministers watching from the same stand.
India vs South Africa
2010-02-24
Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman in history to score a double century in ODI cricket, making 200 not out off 147 balls against South Africa — a record that many thought was statistically impossible.
India vs Various / ICC Governance
24 November 2008
India refused to use the Decision Review System for nearly eight years after its introduction, citing concerns about the technology's reliability, while critics accused the BCCI of blocking progress.
India vs Pakistan
2007-09-24
Pakistan needed 13 off the last over with 3 wickets remaining. MS Dhoni gave the ball to Joginder Sharma — a bowler with no T20 experience — who dismissed Misbah-ul-Haq attempting a scoop shot, giving India the inaugural T20 World Cup in the most dramatic possible finish.
Pakistan vs India
21 January 2006
Shoaib Malik was given not out on a caught-behind during India's tour of Pakistan in 2006, with replays showing a clear inside edge to wicketkeeper MS Dhoni. Pakistan won the match and the series became a watershed moment in sub-continental cricket diplomacy.
India vs various
2005-10-19
MS Dhoni's helicopter shot — a full swing of the bat through a full or yorker-length delivery, generating enormous loft and power to leg — became one of cricket's most copied innovations, a shot that cricket coaches had no name for until Dhoni invented it.