MS Dhoni retires: A look at the many stages of the legend's international career

December 2004 - When MS Dhoni said hello to world cricket. He made his international debut in each of the formats in the month of December, spread over three years. The first one happening in the ODIs, the format that has arguably defined his career in every aspect.

A change of baton in 2007 as Dhoni was named the captain of the Indian cricket team.

His first big assignment, the inaugural World T20 in 2007, and Dhoni successfully led a young Indian side to title glory.

"MS Dhoni finishes off in style" - that iconic six that ended India's 28-year-long wait

MS Dhoni poses with the ICC World Cup Trophy and the Man of the Match trophy.

The day Dhoni became the first captain in world cricket to win all three ICC trophies after guiding India to a Champions Trophy victory in 2013

Dhoni made his first Test appearance against Sri Lanka in Chennai and made his final in December of 2014, midway through the tour of Australia. In the course of his nine-year-long career, Dhoni scored 4,876 runs in 144 innings, with six centuries and 33 fifties. While his run tally places him at the 13th spot among India's all-time highest run-scorers in Tests, he is the third-highest overall among wicketkeeper-batsmen.

In T20Is, Dhoni has scored 1,617 runs in 95 matches at 37.60, making him the third-highest run-getter among Indians after Virat Kohli (2,794 runs) and Rohit Sharma (2,773 runs).

Dhoni stepped down from limited-overs captaincy in 2017 and Virat Kohli was named the new skipper

Besides his accolades in the international format, Dhoni has also successfully led IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings to three title victories - 2010, 2011 and 2018. 

The dismissal that broke a million hearts. This was Dhoni's last international appearance, in the semifinal defeat of the World Cup 2019 against New Zealand. 

Dhoni still remains India's most successful captain across format, leading India in 332 international matches (most), with the team winning 178 (most) hence recording in a win-loss ratio of 1.48 (second-most after Kohli's 2.49). Overall, his winning tally places him second after Ponting’s 220 wins in 324 international matches as an Australian captain. In T20Is, Dhoni guided India to 41 wins in 72 matches, the best figure by any captain in the format.

"Thanks. Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout from 1929 hrs consider me as Retired" - Dhoni bids adieu to international cricket