10 years of MS Dhoni: A look back

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni completed 10 years of international cricket on Tuesday. It has been a journey that has had everything from unbelievable triumphs to crushing defeats.Here’s a look back at Dhoni’s decade-long career in pictures.

#1 ODI debut (2004)

A 23-year-old M.S. Dhoni made his ODI debut, against Bangladesh, at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong on December 23, 2004. Though India won the match, Dhoni didn't have the greatest of debutsas he was run out for a first ball duck.

Heres a video of that dismissal

#2 Fireworks at Vizag (2005)

India were playing Pakistan in the second match of the 6-match ODI series, at Vizag. Coming into bat at number 3, Dhoni slammed a brilliant 148 off 123 balls to help India post a massive 356 for 9 in their 50 overs. The home team eventually won the match by 58 runs.

#3 The Jaipur blitzkrieg (2005)

India were playing Sri Lanka in the third match of the seven-match ODI series, at Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur. Set a target of 299 for a win, they lost Sachin Tendulkar early. Dhoni was promoted to number 3, and that move paid off brilliantly as he smashed the Lankan bowlers to all parts of the ground, scoring an unbeaten 183 not out off 145 balls that helped India chase down the target with 23 balls to spare.

It is still a record for the highest individual score by a wicket-keeper in 50-over cricket history.

Heres a video of that innings.

#4 Counter-attack at Faislabad (2006)

India were 258 for 4 when MS Dhoni walked out to join Sachin Tendulkar in the first innings of the second Test at Faisalabad. What followed was a stunning exhibition of counter-attacking batting as Dhoni smashed the bowlers to score the first hundred of his Test career.

Heres the video of that innings.

#5 Dhoni\'s first helicopter shot in international cricket (2006)

In the third ODI against England at Margao in 2006, MS Dhoni showed the world a new way to tackle the yorkers in the death overs by playing his very own helicopter shot off the bowling of James Anderson.

Heres a video of that extraordinary shot.

#6 The rescue innings at Lord\'s (2007)

India were staring down the barrel at 156 for 5 when Dhoni walked in to join VVS Laxman in the first Test against England, at Lords. What followed was an inningsthat was unlike any other he had played in his career so far: a patient 76 not out that helped India to secure a draw.

Heres a video of that innings.

#7 World T20 Champions (2007)

MS Dhoni-led Indian cricket team went on to become first World Cup T20 champions, defeating Pakistan in the finals of the 2007 World Cup T20 at Johannesburg.

#8 Taming the Aussies in Australia (2008)

Under Dhonis captaincy, India wonthe CB series in Australia in 2008, defeating Australia twice in the best-of-three finals. It was Indias first ever tri-nation tournament win in Australia.

#9 Test captain (2008)

Following Anil Kumbles retirement midway through the Border-Gavaskar trophy, Dhoni was handed the reins of Test captaincy, and he responded by winning the final Test of the 4-match series against Australia to seal the series 2-0.

#10 Beating the Black Caps in their own den (2009)

Dhoni led India to their first Test series win over New Zealand in New Zealand since 1967 by winning the three-match Test series 1-0. India also won the ODI series 3-1.

#11 First taste of defeat (2009)

Dhoni and his boys failed to defend their World T20 crown in England in 2009. This was the tournament during which teams started to test India withbouncers, and the Indian players ability to play on challenging conditions still remains a big question mark.

#12 India become World No.1 in Tests (2009)

Towardsthe end of 2009, Dhoni led India to a 2-0 Test series victory at home against Sri Lanka. The series win had a larger significance as India became the No.1 ranked side in the world in Test cricket for the first time in thehistory of the game.

#13 Final over heroics (2010)

In a must-win game at Dharamshala against Kings XI Punjab, Dhoni smashed Irfan Pathan for two sixes and a four in the final over to helpChennai Super Kings enter the semi-final of the 2010 Indian Premier League.

Heres a video of that last over win:

#14 Maiden IPL triumph (2010)

After losing in the finals in 2008 and in the semi-finals in 2009, Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings to their maiden Indian Premier League title in 2010, defeating Mumbai Indians in the final clash.

#15 Levelling the Test series in South Africa (2010)

India drew their first ever series in South Africa in 2010 under Dhoni and headed into the World Cup 2011 as the number one ranked team in the world in Test cricket.

#16 The 2011 World Cup trimph

In front of a packed Wankhede Stadium, Dhoni played a captain’s innings of 91* off 79 balls against Sri Lanka to help India win the 50-over World Cup after 28 long years.

Here’s the video of that brilliant innings in the final:

#17 The England drubbing (2011)

Following the World Cup win at home, India embarked on a trip to England for a four-match Test series and a five-match ODI series. But the tour proved to be the worst nightmare for Dhoni and Co. as England hammered India 4-0 inTests and 3-0 inODIs.

#18 Whitewashed again (2011)

After getting humiliated in England, Dhoni and Co. travelled to Australia for a four-match Test series. However, India were annihilated 4-0 once again and failed to make the final of the Tri-nation series as well, which followed the Tests.

#19 Knocked out at home (2012)

England came to India in the winter of 2012 for a four-match Test series. After winning the first Test at Ahmedabad, Dhoni and Co. went on to lose the next two Tests at Mumbai and Kolkata and eventually lost the series 1-2.

#20 Home whitewash of Australia (2013)

Australia came to India in early 2013 for a four-match Test series. This was Dhoni and Co.s best chance to give it back to the Aussies and give it back they did, hammering Australia 4-0 at home and reclaiming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

#21 Champions Trophy win in England (2013)

Dhoni had won every major title in the limited-overs format of the game except the Champions Trophy. In June 2013, he ticked that box, as well, leading India to a win in the final of the 2013 edition, where they defeated England by 5 runs.

#22 Loss in South Africa (2013)

India travelled to South Africa in late 2013 without the big three of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, who had all retired. Despite putting up a spirited fight inTests, they failed to win the series. They couldnt do much in the ODI series that followed, as well.

#23 Similar trend in New Zealand (2014)

Hoping to end the losing streak overseas, Dhoni led a young Indian team to New Zealand at the start of 2014; however, they returned not managing to win a single match.

#24 World T20 runners-up (2014)

After being the most consistent team in the whole competition, Dhoni and his boys couldnt get the better ofSri Lanka in the final of the World T20 in Bangladesh in April earlier this year.

#25 Another loss in England (2014)

Going into the third Test of the 5-match Test series against England with a 1-0 lead, India would have loved to keep the winning momentum going but failed to do so as the home side won the the next three Tests on the trot to take the series 3-1. Dhoni and Co.,however, did mange to win the ODI Series 3-1.