At around 11:30 PM on 6 July, the generic hashtag #HappyBirthdayCaptainCool had already started to trend in India, with over 5,000 tweets in half an hour.
Soon when the clock struck midnight, Twitter went ablaze with wishes pouring in for the talismanic Indian limited overs captain MS Dhoni from all parts of the country.
Current players, former teammates, ex-cricketers, journalists and fans… almost everyone wanted to extend their best wishes on this special occasion. Here, we take a look at some tweets that wished Dhoni, a happy birthday.
Starting off with a tribute to his six hitting prowess:
10 out of the 13 instances when MS Dhoni finished the chase for India with a SIX. #HappyBirthdayCaptainCool pic.twitter.com/3w5yf9Ee2B
— Sampath (@SAMPATHB24) July 7, 2016
Followed by the Indian board’s very own birthday wish:
From his days of mane to achievements galore. Full Video - https://t.co/TvAM70c0Yc #HappyBirthdayCaptainCoolhttps://t.co/3qTY5mhZ2E
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 7, 2016
And the cricketers, past and present, weren’t too far behind – led from the front by the Master Blaster:
Happy Birthday @msdhoni .. Have a wonderful and blessed year ahead!! pic.twitter.com/DfiwtYqB9l
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 7, 2016
Many happy returns of the day @msdhoni! Wishing you the best of everything.
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) July 7, 2016
Happy Birthday @msdhoni 🎂 🎉🎁
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) July 7, 2016
Wishing @msdhoni bhai a very Happy Birthday. The man who handles pressure like no one else can. Have a great year. God bless you.
— Manoj Tiwary (@tiwarymanoj) July 7, 2016
Wish you a very happy birthday mahi bhai @msdhoni God bless you.
— ajinkyarahane88 (@ajinkyarahane88) July 7, 2016
Happy Birthday @msdhoni! The more the candles the more the light that will shine in your life wish you all the best pic.twitter.com/uECxolq7ZX
— Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) July 7, 2016
Happy Birthday @msdhoni .
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 7, 2016
May you keep doing Anhoni ko Honi.#NationalHelicopterDay pic.twitter.com/PGHp9M6gNT
Wish u a very happy birthday @msdhoni bhai 🎂🎉🎁 #TeamIndia #HappyBirthdayCaptainCool pic.twitter.com/ElcTVZQodM
— faiz fazal (@faizfazal) July 7, 2016
The president of the BCCI, Anurag Thakur and India’s Minister for Culture & Tourism, Dr. Mahesh Sharma extended their best wishes:
#HappyBirthday @msdhoni wish you a great day & 'tons' of success ! :-)
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) July 7, 2016
We are proud of you @msdhoni .Many many happy returns of the day #HappyBirthdayCaptainCool https://t.co/uL1nfXXpWN
— Dr. Mahesh Sharma (@dr_maheshsharma) July 7, 2016
So did renowned cricket experts Alan Wilkins and Ayaz Memon:
Happy Birthday @msdhoni and enjoy another year of wisdom and good fortune!
— Alan Wilkins (@alanwilkins22) July 7, 2016
35 birthday bumps for @msdhoni, unarguably among the greats of the game
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 7, 2016
But it was Joy Bhattacharjya’s tweet that summed up the mood of the nation:
Happy birthday @msdhoni. I was there for his first international innings. I hope to be there to see his last!
— joybhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) July 7, 2016
