Mahendra Singh Dhoni, one of cricket’s most iconic figures, turns 43 today. Considered to be one of the best wicket-keeper batsmen and captain, Dhoni leaves an immeasurable legacy. His batting talent is evident, with 10,773 runs in ODIs, 4,876 in Tests, and 1,617 in T20s. Throughout his distinguished international career, he amassed 634 catches and 195 stumpings, demonstrating his equally excellent, sharp abilities behind the wickets.
However, not many know that his journey began with an unfortunate runout for a duck against Bangladesh. Despite this unlucky beginning, he reached unheard-of heights, helping India win the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, and the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup.
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Nevertheless, Dhoni had superstitions that he felt aided him on the field, much like many sportsmen do. In sports, superstitions are fairly popular. Even the best athletes and players will turn to them when they’re in need.
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There are several instances of sports superstitions, such as Sachin Tendulkar always sporting his left pad first, and Zaheer Khan constantly carrying a yellow handkerchief in his pocket. As Mahi turns 43 today, we honor not only his accomplishments in cricket but also the unknown facts that eventually made him a ‘captain cool.’
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So, let’s have a look at his superstitions:
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Virender Sehwag once revealed that Mahendra Singh Dhoni consumed just one meal during the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup
The Indian cricket team defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets to win the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. In the match, Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit 91 runs in 79 balls which included a legendary six at Wankhede Stadium. Many years after the Indian team’s victory in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, Virender Sehwag revealed an intriguing story from that tournament in an open discussion on Star Sports.
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Virender Sehwag disclosed that during the 2011 World Cup, Mahendra Singh Dhoni adhered to an odd superstition. Sehwag disclosed that MS Dhoni consumed just one dish—khichdi—during the whole tournament. Speaking candidly on the subject, he said:
Everyone was having some or the other superstition, and everyone was following theirs. MS Dhoni had a superstition of having ‘khichdi’ all through the World Cup. He used to say that even if I’m not scoring runs but this superstition is working, and we’re winning matches.
Pragyan Ojha said that Mahendra Singh Dhoni never wishes his teammates luck prior to games
During his playing career, Mahendra Singh Dhoni also adhered to an intriguing superstition. It is that he never wished his teammates “good luck” before a match. During a conversation with Sports Today, Pragyan Ojha revealed MS Dhoni’s superstition, saying the cricketer believes that if he wishes someone luck, things will happen suddenly for them.
As a result, MS Dhoni made the decision not to wish his colleagues luck before the matches. Ojha stated:
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MSD will never wish his team members’ all the best’ or ‘good luck’ before a game. Because he feels, if he wishes somebody quite a few players he has wished his players during a game, it ended up in a very different way. That’s maybe why he has stopped it.
So, it seems that we are not the only ones who follow certain superstitions, even ‘Captain Cool’ is influenced by them. What are your views on Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s superstitions? Let us know in the comments.
