The energetic Mahendra Singh Dhoni, born on July 7, 1981, has set Indian cricket on a boom. This explosive talent, rising from Ranchi, in Jharkhand, stars as one of the top-ranking batsman, of not only India, but also the world.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a reckless hitter who whips the opponent bowling with his lashing bat to make runs shower on the Indian side, he is playing for.

He also serves as the dexterous wicket keeper, trained in the fielding art of the game. At present he is the success-wooing captain, who led the young Team India, on the high pedestals of glory, in the recent times, Twenty 20 World Cup Tournament, held in South Africa, September 2007.

Dhoni`s first appearance in first-class cricket took place in the 1999-2000 season, for the Jharkhand state-level battalion.

He has also featured himself in junior India team, before getting the much-coveted promotion into the Indian national team.

A swift-paced century of Dhoni helped East Zone to grasp the Deodar Trophy in 2004. Similar was his dauntless 60, scored in the final match of the Duleep Trophy, to give his team, a strong foothold.

In 2004, he was invited to join India; a squad, during a tour to Kenya in 2004. In this triangular tournament in Kenya , he flaunted two fascinating hundreds against Pakistan. This was a match , which demonstrated his caliber to rip the rival bowling force. On December 23, 2004, Dhoni was offered the scope to make his One-Day International debut in the Bangladesh Vs India at Chittagong. Here onwards, Dhoni embarked on the mission of carving out dazzling play-statistics.

In the fifth ODI of his international career, he ravaged Pakistan with a stunning 148. Dhoni just used 123 deliveries to reach this remarkable score. His next electrifying performance was visualized in his zealous 183 off 145 balls, against Sri Lanka , in Jaipur, on October 31, 2005. This towering score is not only, one of the best scores, clinched by an Indian cricketer in the ODI, but also the record-breaker innings surpassing the illuminated statistics of Adam Gilchrist, in terms of it being the highest score, fetched by a wicketkeeper in an ODI.

Dhoni is equally magnificent in Test cricket. His inaugural Test was in the India Vs Sri Lanka in Chennai (previously Madras), from December 2-6, 2005.

An indomitable Dhoni, remained nonchalant in the face of the Pakistan bowling tornado, Shoaib Akhtar . He answered Shoaib`s attacks, with a counter-rampaging 42 runs, built from 5 fours and a six of 28 deliveries. The outcome was that, Dhoni, raised the flag of his maiden Test century, against Pakistan, in the 2nd Test at Faisalabad, in January 2006. It took 93 balls for Dhoni, to reach the desired destination. Dhoni attained a 148 in that match off 153 balls, consisting of 19 fours and 4 sixes. Dhoni`s feat culminating to a zenith of a batting average, of 52.76, by the end of the ODI series against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi is the fourth highest for any batsman, who has bagged a minimum 1,000 runs in one-day internationals. He is just behind Australian stalwarts, namely, Mike Hussey, Michael Bevan, and English cricketer Kevin Pietersen.

22nd April, 2006, the ICC ODI ratings, declared Dhoni, as the world`s number one batsman, replacing the Australian captain Ricky Ponting .

As per as 30th April , 2006, Dhoni has a batting average of 48.89 , which happened to be the fourth highest average in the world , and certainly the highest batting average for a wicket-keeper. His outstanding average is also the second topmost average, for those who have procured 1200 runs in ODIs . This marvelous striker, till date has sustained the crowning glory for obtaining the maximum number of sixes, 10 sixes, in an ODI innings, by a wicketkeeper. Dhoni also possess a lofty strike rate, of 100.96, which is the six highest strike rate in the world cricket, and the highest by an Indian.

However, in the third Test against England, Dhoni failed disappointingly. Even in 2006`s expedition to West Indies, India emerged victorious in the Test series with a 1-0 result . Dhoni`s batting average was mediocre, being at 24.00, but the wicketkeeper Dhoni, captured 13 catches and made 4 stumpings in the series.

After a depressing phase in 2006, Dhoni resumed to his dashing form in the home series against West Indies and Sri Lanka , early in early 2007 . However, he sank in insignificance during the World Cup 2007. Post the World Cup, Dhoni`s spectacular performance in the ODI tournament against Bangladesh, awarded him the "Man of the Series".

In 2007, England tour, Mahendra Singh Dhoni was elected as the ODI Team Vice-Captain. The talented player has fared quite well in the tour.

In the recently past , Twenty 20 World Cup, Dhoni`s captaincy prowess is in the prime focus.

Dhoni has also been selected as the captain for the forthcoming home series against Australia and Pakistan.

Dhoni, the gifted player has given India many precious contributions, be it in batting, in fielding or in captaincy. India is looking up to this reliable figure, who can guide a nation into an era of fame and radiance for Indian cricket, thereby boosting up India`s prestige in the international era.