It was just a matter of time before Mahendra Singh Dhoni got recommended for a civilian award for his service to the nation. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has nominated veteran star MS Dhoni for the Padma Bhushan, the nation’s third highest civilian honour.
“Yes, it’s confirmed, we have recommended Dhoni’s name for the Padma Bhushan,” BCCI Acting President C.K. Khanna told IANS on Wednesday.
MS Dhoni did not make his debut to international stage until 2005. As a player, he became the most fierce destructive wicketkeeper-batsman Indian cricket has ever seen. Soon, he became a media sensation and also an indispensable part of the team and soon took over as the captain. Dhoni led India to the golden era of modern cricket. Dhoni’s captaincy did wonders for Team India as they won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2009. After the initial success, he built the India side and lead it in all formats of the game. India went on to win the 50-over ICC World Cup 2011 after a long gap of 28 years, giving the legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar a perfect send-off. The former skipper also led India to the top of the ICC rankings.
Dhoni scored 4,876 runs in 90 Test matches, which includes six centuries and 33 half-centuries. In One-Day Internationals (ODIs), he is the fourth highest scorer for India with 9,739 runs in 302 matches, notching up 10 centuries and 66 half-centuries along the way.
His record is just as glittering in the Twenty20 (T20) Internationals with 1,212 runs in 78 matches.
Former captains Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Rahul Dravid and Chandu Borde have also been the recipient of the civilian honour.
Other sportspersons who have been awarded Padma Bhushan in this decade are Rahul Dravid, Mary Kom, Pullela Gopichand, Leander Paes, Satpal Singh, Sania Mirza and Saina Nehwal.
(with inputs from IANS)
