Watch: MS Dhoni celebrates his 44th birthday with friends, cake and warm wishes

India Today

6 hours ago

Former India captain MS Dhoni celebrated his 44th birthday on Monday (July 7) in his hometown of Ranchi, marking the occasion with close friends and familiar faces. A video of the cake-cutting ceremony quickly went viral on social media, with fans delighting in the sight of the legendary cricketer donning a sleeveless T-shirt and smiling as he shared slices of cake with friends.advertisementA video from the evening - showing Dhoni in a sleeveless T-shirt, smiling as he cut the cake and offered pieces to his companions - quickly lit up social media. For fans across the country, it was a glimpse into a private, heartfelt moment with a man who's rarely one for public spectacle.But true to Dhoni's larger-than-life aura, the birthday celebrations had already started elsewhere. In Vijayawada, fans paid tribute to their icon with a towering cutout - a now-familiar tradition in the South. Huge crowds gathered, waving Chennai Super Kings flags and holding posters, one of which showed Dhoni in a traditional South Indian outfit. It was a reminder of the deep bond he shares with the region, forged through years of loyalty and leadership in yellow since the IPL began in 2008.No big cameras, no perfect angles just a simple raw moment in the gym, when you see that low quality gym video, you know the emotions are real.No PR team, no HD cameras, no staged moment Just Mahi, in his vest and lowers, quietly cutting his cake with his people around. No pic.twitter.com/Iyt7FMr7Gm— Abhinav MSDian (@Abhinav_hariom) July 7, 2025
Now 44, Dhoni may have stepped away from international cricket in 2020, but his presence still looms large over the sport. His most recent outing came in the IPL 2025 season for CSK. While Chennai didn't have their best campaign, Dhoni's quiet resolve and enduring leadership remained a rallying point for the team - and a source of hope for millions of fans.Naturally, questions swirl about whether he'll return next year. Speaking after the season, Dhoni said he would give himself "five to six months" to decide - a typically measured response from a man who has always played the game on his own terms.His legacy, though, needs no deliberation. In a career spanning 538 international matches, Dhoni scored 17,266 runs and recorded 829 dismissals - numbers that speak volumes, yet still fall short of capturing his full impact.In ODIs, he scored 10,773 runs at an average of 50.57, including 10 centuries and 73 fifties. That iconic unbeaten 183 against Sri Lanka is still etched in every cricket fan's memory. Even more impressively, he achieved the milestone of 10,000 runs while largely batting in the lower middle order - a role he made his own with unmatched composure.advertisementNo Indian captain has lifted more ICC trophies than Dhoni - the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy. In Tests, he led India in 60 matches, winning 27, and played 90 games overall, scoring nearly 5,000 runs, including a majestic 224.He's also the only Indian captain to have whitewashed Australia in a Border-Gavaskar Trophy series - not once, but twice.Yet for all his stats and accolades, it is Dhoni's calm under pressure, humility in victory, and dignity in retirement that make him truly special. On his 44th birthday, fans across the country - from stadiums to social feeds - came together not just to wish him, but to celebrate a cricketer who gave them moments they'll never forget.- EndsMust Watch