'One of the true legends of Indian cricket' - Shahid Afridi pays tribute to MS Dhoni after he announces retirement

MS Dhoni, on Saturday, left the cricket fraternity in shock after announcing his international retirement. The former India skipper shared a video on Instagram showing his journey for India– from breaking into the squad to getting run out against New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup semi-final.

Along with announcing his international retirement, Dhoni also thanked his fans for their love and support. His last international appearance turned out to be India’s defeat against New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup. The veteran, on the back of his half-century, had certainly raised hopes of the semi-final victory. However, an unfortunate run out eventually emerged as Dhoni’s last on-field moment.

Congratulations on a great career MS Dhoni: Shahid Afridi

After Dhoni’s announcement, social media was flooded with tributes and wishes. Many fans, as well as players, thanked Dhoni for his contribution to international cricket. Dhoni is the only skipper so far to have clinched three major ICC trophies– T20 World Cup (2007), ODI World Cup (2011) and Champions Trophy (2013). ICC also paid tribute to Dhoni along with sharing his 2011 World Cup-winning picture.

Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi also congratulated Dhoni for having a great career. Afridi acknowledged Dhoni as one of the true legends and wished him best for his future endeavours. “One of the true legends of Indian cricket and one of the greatest captains, congratulations on a great career MS Dhoni! All the best for your future” tweeted Afridi.

Along with being a world-class batsman and an excellent wicketkeeper, Dhoni was also considered as one of the best skippers to have braced the sport. Apart from Sourav Ganguly, he also played a vital role in shaping Indian cricket, especially in terms of winning silverware.

In a career spanning over 90 Tests, 350 ODIs and 98 T20Is, Dhoni scored more than 15,000 international runs and etched his name in the league of all-time greats. Post his international retirement, he will now be seen on the field in the much-awaited IPL 2020, starting from September 19th in the UAE.

An integral part of the Chennai franchise, ‘Thala’ is currently involved in their training camp at their home ground. CSK players are slated to depart on August 21st and battle it out for their fourth IPL title. Under Dhoni’s leadership, CSK has been one of the most consistent franchises in the history of the league.