By Stanley Billa 
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, commonly referred to as MS Dhoni or Captain Cool, is one of the best cricketers in the history of Indian cricket. Known for his cool leadership qualities, brilliant wicket-keeping skills, and his ability to win games, Dhoni has helped India bag many ICC trophies and has been equally successful with Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Over the years, he has won many coveted awards from the Government of India, ICC, BCCI, and various sports bodies. Here is an exhaustive list of all the awards won by MS Dhoni and their respective accomplishments.
Who is MS Dhoni?
A former Indian international cricketer and an all-time greatest cricket captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni was born on July 7, 1981, in Ranchi (now Jharkhand). His first ODI appearance was in December 2004 against Bangladesh, and his Test debut took place in 2005 when India played Sri Lanka.
A great batsman without any fear in his heart, the fastest wicket-keeper in cricket and also known for his exceptional tactical abilities, Dhoni led India to win the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup, 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, and 2013 ICC Champions Trophy – making him an unparalleled captain who won all three ICC white ball trophies.
Following his retirement from international cricket on August 15, 2020, Dhoni has been playing for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.
Complete List of Awards Won by MS Dhoni
| Award | Year | Awarding Body | Reason |
| ICC ODI Player of the Year | 2008 | International Cricket Council (ICC) | Outstanding ODI performances |
| ICC ODI Player of the Year | 2009 | International Cricket Council (ICC) | Consistent excellence in ODI cricket |
| ICC Spirit of Cricket Award | 2011 | ICC | Demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship |
| Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna | 2007–08 | Government of India | Highest sporting honor for outstanding achievements |
| Padma Shri | 2009 | Government of India | India’s fourth-highest civilian award |
| Padma Bhushan | 2018 | Government of India | India’s third-highest civilian award |
| Honorary Lieutenant Colonel | 2011 | Indian Territorial Army | Recognition of contributions to Indian sports |
| ICC ODI Team of the Year | 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 | ICC | Selected among the world’s best ODI XI |
| ICC Test Team of the Year | 2009, 2010, 2013 | ICC | Named in the ICC Test XI |
| ICC ODI Team Captain | Multiple Years | ICC | Captain of the ICC ODI Team of the Year |
| CNN-IBN Indian of the Year (Sports) | 2011 | CNN-IBN | Outstanding sporting achievement |
| LG People’s Choice Award | 2013 | LG | Fan-voted recognition |
| Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year | 2011 | Castrol | Best Indian cricketer of the year |
| MTV Youth Icon | 2006 | MTV India | Inspirational youth personality |
National Awards Received by MS Dhoni
Some of the most prestigious sports awards won by MS Dhoni have made him the recipient of many of the top honors that Indian citizens can win in their lifetime.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (2007-08)
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (now called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award) is the highest national sports award in India. MS Dhoni was awarded this prestigious award for his outstanding performance during India’s first win at the ICC T20 World Cup held in South Africa in 2007.
The award acknowledges not just his brilliant performance but also the transformational leadership qualities he showed while handling the Indian cricket team.
Padma Shri (2009)
In 2009, the Government of India presented MS Dhoni with the Padma Shri, which is the fourth-highest civilian award in India.
At this point in his career, Dhoni had emerged as one of the best ODI captains in the world and he had helped India reach the number 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings. MS Dhoni’s contribution to the game of cricket in India was well-received enough that he was presented with this civilian award.
Padma Bhushan (2018)
The Padma Bhushan, which is India’s third-highest civilian award, was awarded to MS Dhoni in 2018 because of his outstanding contribution to the sports of India.
The most memorable aspect of the ceremony was the fact that Dhoni wore the uniform of the Indian Territorial Army during this ceremony.
ICC Awards Won by MS Dhoni
The performances of MS Dhoni at the international level got him many awards from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
ICC ODI Player of the Year (2008 & 2009)
MS Dhoni became the first Indian cricketer to receive the prestigious ICC ODI Player of the Year Award.
He received the award in:
- 2008
- 2009
This showed how consistently he performed as a captain as well as a match-winning batter. It was during this period that MS Dhoni established himself as one of the best finishers in the cricketing world.
ICC Spirit of Cricket Award (2011)
Dhoni was selected in the ICC ODI Team of the Year on multiple occasions:
- 2006
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
ICC Test Team of the Year
Dhoni’s leadership in Test cricket was also recognized as he was included in the ICC Test Team of the Year in:
- 2009
- 2010
- 2013
BCCI Awards Won by MS Dhoni
Moreover, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also acknowledged Dhoni’s outstanding contributions to Indian cricket by giving him several awards over time.
Even though he has not won the Polly Umrigar Award (BCCI’s award for the Best International Cricketer of the Year), Dhoni has been awarded by the BCCI due to his excellent captaincy skills and services to Indian cricket for many years.
His outstanding achievements as far as the BCCI is concerned include:
- Leading India to the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup title.
- Winning the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup after a gap of 28 years.
- Capturing the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, making India the first team to win all three ICC white-ball trophies under a single captain.
- Guiding India to the No. 1 ICC Test ranking.
- Becoming one of India’s most successful captains across all three formats.
- Playing over 500 international matches, a milestone achieved by only a select few cricketers.
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Major Team Achievements as Captain
MS Dhoni is considered the most successful captain of India in the limited-overs format. It was due to his cool mind and superb strategy that India won every ICC championship tournament for white-ball cricket, while also being ranked number one in ICC Tests.
| Tournament | Year | Achievement |
| ICC T20 World Cup | 2007 | Champions |
| CB Series (Australia) | 2008 | Champions |
| Asia Cup | 2010 | Champions |
| ICC Cricket World Cup | 2011 | Champions |
| ICC Champions Trophy | 2013 | Champions |
| Asia Cup | 2016 | Champions |
| ICC Test Rankings | 2009 | India became World No. 1 |
| ICC Test Championship Mace | 2010 & 2011 | Awarded to No. 1 Test Team |
IPL Awards and Chennai Super Kings Achievements
MS Dhoni has been representing Chennai Super Kings (CSK) from the first ever IPL season played in 2008. It is because of his leadership that CSK has become one of the most successful teams in the league.
| Season | Result |
| IPL 2010 | Champions |
| IPL 2011 | Champions |
| IPL 2018 | Champions |
| IPL 2021 | Champions |
| IPL 2023 | Champions |
Major IPL Achievements
- Five-time IPL-winning captain.
- Two-time Champions League T20 winner.
- Holds one of the highest win percentages among IPL captains.
- One of the few players to play more than 250 IPL matches.
- Famous for finishing games under pressure.
- Led CSK to multiple IPL finals and playoff appearances.
Military Honors Received by MS Dhoni
Beyond his prowess in cricket, MS Dhoni is a very dedicated patriot.
Honorary Lieutenant Colonel
Dhoni was appointed an honorary lieutenant colonel in 2011 by the Indian Territorial Army due to his commendable contributions to the field of sports in India and his reverence for the army.
Army Training
In 2019, Dhoni trained with the 106 Territorial Army Battalion (Para) in Jammu & Kashmir. He went through training activities such as military drills, guarding and many others.
Qualified Paratrooper
He managed to do five parachute jumps, including a night jump, and got the highly prestigious certificate of being a paratrooper.
Thus, Dhoni’s connection with the Indian Army made him even more reputable as an Indian sportsperson.
Why is MS Dhoni Called Captain Cool?
MS Dhoni is called “Captain Cool” due to his outstanding capability to be cool in extreme situations.
Whenever there was an important decision that India required to take in a match, Dhoni would hardly ever be seen showing any emotions while playing.
Here are some of the characteristics that he displayed during his captaincy.
- Calmness under pressure.
- Excellent match awareness.
- Sharp field placements.
- Fearless decision-making.
- Trust in young players.
- Outstanding wicketkeeping instincts.
FAQs
How many awards has MS Dhoni won?
MS Dhoni has received numerous national and international honors, including the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, two ICC ODI Player of the Year awards, and the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award, along with several team and leadership recognitions.
Which is the highest civilian award received by MS Dhoni?
The Padma Bhushan, awarded in 2018, is the highest civilian honor received by MS Dhoni.
Has MS Dhoni won the ICC ODI Player of the Year award?
Yes. MS Dhoni won the ICC ODI Player of the Year Award in 2008 and 2009, becoming the first Indian cricketer to receive the honor.
How many IPL trophies has MS Dhoni won?
As captain of Chennai Super Kings, MS Dhoni has won five IPL titles (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023), making him one of the most successful captains in IPL history.
Conclusion
The rise of MS Dhoni from a small-town cricketer in Ranchi to the greatest captain ever seen in world cricket is indeed an inspiring story. Some of the many accolades in Dhoni’s trophy collection include Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awards by the government while on the international level, ICC accolades and captaincy milestones speak volumes for him.
Apart from the plethora of accolades, the true essence of Dhoni lies in his leadership quality, unparalleled ability to finish off matches, and love for the sport. The only captain to have won all the three ICC white ball trophies as well as five times IPL winning captain, Dhoni has raised the bar high for future generations of cricketers to come. Thus, the list of accolades that MS Dhoni won shall never be forgotten in cricketing history.