Nicknamed ‘Captain Cool' for his calm demeanour in the face of challenging situations, Dhoni's sudden retirement was complete shocker for the followers of the game given that he did not give hint of it even though he was addressing his final press conference as India's Test captain.
With the exception of batting great Sachin Tendulkar, Dhoni remains among the most popular cricketers in India, his small-town background adding to his charm.
A ticket inspector with the Indian Railways before making it big on the cricket field, he earned followers for not just his daredevil leadership in the limited-overs format but also his unconventional looks and hairstyle.
He has already surpassed Tendulkar as the highest-earning Indian sportsman in the advertising world but has been painfully media shy otherwise.
