Bollywood actress Rakulpreet Singh extended warm birthday wishes to former Indian captain MS Dhoni with a stylish post on his 44th birthday, celebrated on July 7, 2025. She shared a picture of Dhoni on her Instagram story, where he was seen dressed in a black suit and black sunglasses, with the word ‘Thala’ in the background.
The nickname ‘Thala’, meaning ‘leader’, is affectionately used by his fans, owing to his long-standing association with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL.
“Happy birthday! Hope your birthday brings you loads of smiles and unforgettable memories,” she wrote on her Instagram post.
Cricket Fraternity and Celebrities Pour in Wishes for MS Dhoni on His 44th Birthday
MS Dhoni is regarded as one of the greatest captains in cricket history, alongside Ricky Ponting, particularly in the 21st century. While Ponting never won a T20 World Cup with Australia, Dhoni achieved the feat in 2007 during his very first assignment as captain.
He later went on to lead India to victory in the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. With these achievements, Dhoni remains the only captain to have won all three major ICC limited-overs trophies with a national team.
From winning the Player of the Match award in the 2011 World Cup final to leading CSK to five IPL titles, MS Dhoni has created countless unforgettable moments, cementing his place as one of the most iconic cricketers of this century.
Here are some wishes:
Men's T20 World Cup ✅
Men's ODI World Cup ✅
Champions Trophy ✅Happy birthday to @msdhoni, former #TeamIndia Captain & one of the finest to have ever graced the game 🎂 👏 pic.twitter.com/it442btznm
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 7, 2025
ONE THALA! 🦁7️⃣
PAST➡️PRESENT➡️FUTURE! #HappyBirthdayThala #TH4L4FOREVER #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/Mi5HGFQlby— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) July 6, 2025
Puttina Roju Shubhakankshalu Legend Mahi Bhai Gariki 🇮🇳🧡
MS Dhoni | #PlayWithFire pic.twitter.com/eiH3aYgKoB
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) July 7, 2025
Happy Birthday to a living legend, @msdhoni bhai! Thank you for everything, you deserve nothing but the best. 🤗❤️ pic.twitter.com/CBWzcIa36W
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) July 7, 2025
Happy Birthday, Mahi bhai!
From that first handshake to every calm-in-the-storm moment you led us through, grateful to have shared the dressing room with you.
You taught us how to win with humility.
Wishing you health, happiness & lots of time on your bikes.@msdhoni pic.twitter.com/zs9FrJ7vsK
— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) July 7, 2025
From Kharagpur to every cricketing heart. 🥹🇮🇳
Happy Birthday, Thala. 🫡💙 pic.twitter.com/jFcEKlbBHj
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) July 7, 2025
Dhoni Endured a Disappointing IPL 2025 Season Both On and Off the Field
The 2025 IPL turned out to be a tough campaign for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), as they finished at the bottom of the standings for the first time in the franchise’s history. MS Dhoni featured in all 14 matches, scoring 196 runs in 13 innings at an average of 24.50 and a strike rate of 135.17.
Dhoni took over the captaincy from the sixth match after Ruturaj Gaikwad was sidelined due to injury. However, CSK managed to win only three out of the nine matches under his leadership, ending the season with just 8 points from 14 games.
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