Ravi Shastri, former India head coach and cricketer, recently paid a cheeky yet heartfelt tribute to MS Dhoni, comparing his legendary glovework to the slick hands of a pickpocket. Speaking at the ICC Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where Dhoni was honoured for his immense contribution to the game, Shastri’s analogy was as witty as it was accurate.
“He has hands faster than a pickpocket,” quipped Ravi Shastri. “If you’re ever in India, going for a big game, especially in Ahmedabad, you don’t want MS behind you; watch that back. The wallet will disappear.” The crowd erupted in laughter, but the remark captured the essence of what made Dhoni one of the sharpest wicketkeepers in the history of the sport.
Dhoni, who was known for his uncanny ability to whip the bails off in the blink of an eye, holds the record for the most stumpings in international cricket — 195 in total. His tally of 829 dismissals places him third on the all-time list of most successful wicketkeepers, a testament to both his longevity and brilliance.
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But Dhoni’s legacy goes beyond numbers. He transformed the role of a wicketkeeper-batter in India. Before him, a good glove man could walk into the side. After him, the bar was raised — wicketkeepers had to contribute significantly with the bat too.
Ravi Shastri cooked Dhobi by calling him a pocketmaar (pickpocketer) 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/fYbsPeUr7a
— ` (@worshipVK) June 9, 2025
Making his debut in 2004 against Bangladesh, Dhoni was run out for a duck. But by his fifth match, he had announced himself with a blazing 148 against Pakistan at Vizag. That innings laid the foundation for a career that would reshape Indian cricket.
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He was soon handed the captaincy and led India to an unprecedented era of success. Under his leadership, India won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, the ODI World Cup in 2011 — where he sealed the final with an iconic six — and the Champions Trophy in 2013. Dhoni remains the only captain to have lifted all three major ICC trophies.
As Ravi Shastri pointed out, Dhoni’s stardom is uniquely Indian. “He gets out for zero, or scores a hundred — the adulation is the same,” he said. Such is the aura of MS Dhoni — calm, composed, and forever revered.
