In his hometown of Ranchi, former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni celebrated his 44th birthday with his loved ones on Monday, July 7. As the Indian legend shared cake and smiles with loved ones, a video of Dhoni slicing a cake and laughing heartily soon became popular on social media, much to the joy of his admirers. Dhoni was seen in the video wearing a sleeveless tee and cutting a cake.

Before the festivities even started, tributes began pouring in for Dhoni because of his reputation throughout the world. Large Dhoni cutouts resembling those of South Indian film stars were built by fans in cities like Vijayawada. Demonstrating Dhoni's enduring relationship with CSK since the IPL's start in 2008, supporters brandished flags bearing the Chennai Super Kings logo and images of him in traditional South Indian garb.

At 44, and five years removed from international cricket, Dhoni’s presence in the sport remains as influential as ever. He most recently featured in the 2025 IPL season, captaining CSK. Despite the team finishing last, his calm leadership was a rallying force and a symbol of hope. Speculation remains about whether he will return next year. After the season, Dhoni said he would take “five to six months” to decide on his future with the franchise.

With a staggering career spanning 538 international matches, 17,266 runs, and 829 dismissals, Dhoni’s legacy needs no further validation. In ODIs alone, he scored 10,773 runs at an average of 50.57, including 10 centuries and 73 fifties. His unbeaten 183 against Sri Lanka is etched in every cricket fan’s memory. Remarkably, he achieved over 10,000 runs while batting lower down the order.

In Tests, Dhoni played 90 matches—60 as captain—scoring nearly 5,000 runs, including a top score of 224. He led India to memorable series wins, including two complete whitewashes of Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He remains the only Indian captain to win all three ICC white-ball trophies: the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy.

Yet, beyond the numbers and trophies, Dhoni’s humility, calm leadership, and dignified retirement elevate his legend. On his 44th birthday, fans across the country—online and offline—came together to celebrate not just the cricketer, but the icon who won hearts with grace and grit.

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