MS Dhoni in IPL: The journey from 2008-2017 in pictures

If there ever was a man fit enough to be the face of brand IPL, it has to be MS Dhoni. The collosus of the Indian team, MS Dhoni led the Chennai Super Kings admirably for two back-to-back IPL titles, before being jolted out of it and forced to be part of a new team in IPL 2016. Things turned ugly when he was yanked out of the captaincy role days before the start of IPL 2017, but Dhoni continues to soldier along, still the quickest behind the stumps, and a force to reckon with in front of them.

Here’s revisiting MS Dhoni’s IPL journey from 2008 to 2017, in pictures:

2008- So near, yet so far

Cool as ever, Dhoni led the CSK side to the finals in IPL 2008

He had just three and a half years of experience at the international level, but MS Dhoni had become one of the most sought after players in the Indian Team, especially after the World T20 triumph in 2007. The Chennai Super Kings wasted little time to throw a lot of money on the then 26-year-old, making him the most expensive buy of IPL 2008 at $1.5 million. He repaid the faith shown by the franchise by leading his side to the first finals, before being edged out by the Rajasthan Royals in a tight finish.

The Super Kings were edged out by the Royals in a tight finish.

In 16 matches, Dhoni scored 414 runs at an average of 41.40 and a strike rate of more than 133.

2009 – The Dhoni-Fleming era begins

MS Dhoni formed one of the most successful captain-coach duos with Stephen Fleming

Under Dhoni’s captaincy and Stephem Fleming’s coaching, the CSK side started to identified key members of the team who would go on to become the core of the side in the years to come. Players like Suresh Raina, Murali Vijay and Subramanium Badrinath, despite being youngsters, got a more central role to play in the team, and stepped up to the occasion time and again. 

Dhoni effected four stumpings in the IPL 2009 held in South Africa

With Michael Hussey ruiling himself out, the Chennai side procured Andrew Flintoff, but the expensive bid failed badly, and the Englishman returned home after just two games. The team finished second in the points table and met the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the semi-finals, but a lacklustre batting performance failed them, and they crashed out. 

Dhoni had another decent year with the bat, piling 332 runs at an average of 41.50 at a strike-rate of 127.