On This Day In 2007, MS Dhoni Started His Journey As India's 'Trophy Collector'

On this day in 2007, legendary wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni made his debut as a captain for Team India and since then, the sport in this cricket-crazy nation has never been the same. The high-profile clash between rivals India and Pakistan in ICC T20 World Cup 2007 marked the start of MS Dhoni's career as a captain. In that match, India managed to tie the game despite posting 141/9 in 20 overs. India won the match later through a bowl-out, which saw players from each side taking an aim at the wickets.

MSD's first outing as a captain was successful as a young Men in Blue captured the inaugural ICC T20 WC title, defeating Pakistan in the final by five runs. Dhoni's cool composure, trust in his young, new-look side and his unusual decisions, like to give Joginder Sharma, who had leaked runs, the final over in the title clash, set the tone for what was to come.

Under his captaincy, India would go on to capture the ICC Cricket World Cup after 28 years in 2011, with Dhoni starring in the final against Sri Lanka with 91* and hitting the winning six. Men in Blue also captured the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. Also, it was under his captaincy that India won its first-ever Asia Cup in 15 years back in 2010. From working as a ticket collector at a railway station, MS was India's 'Trophy Collector', winning trophies with ease and confidence never seen before in an Indian captain.

These big triumphs established calmness, unconditional trust in youngsters, positivity and risks as some of the biggest hallmarks of his captaincy. Careers of many then-youngsters like Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja etc., were shaped during the peak of Dhoni's captaincy, which saw him become the