Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s rise has been phenomenal to say the least. Very few would have captured the hearts of so many in such a short span of time. From the backwaters of cricket to one of the top names on the international circuit is a journey that  is inspiring thousands to take to the game with all seriousness.
This book traces Dhoni’s career from the early years in Ranchi, his struggles as well as the strokes of good fortune. It is an attempt to bring to light the development of a career, going beyond just statistics and scoreboards. The book is lent perspective not just by the author, who has seen Dhoni transcend from obscurity to fame, but also by those who played a role in helping him grow as a cricketer.
It is an endeavour to take readers close to their hero without eulogising him. The book has several details and anecdotes that have neither been read or heard of before. The author visited the hometown of the ‘rock star of Indian cricket’ to get an idea of his character and attitude and how his career was shaped.
The book also has several rare photographs and important statistics that add colour and depth to the narration.

C. Rajshekhar Rao is an acclaimed name in sports journalism. He has reported on various sports disciplines since the early 1990s, but cricket has been his forte.
Rao has worked for leading media groups like The Hindu and Agence France Presse (AFP), and is presently employed with the Daily News and Analysis (DNA) newspaper. His column ‘Snicks and Swingers’ during his stint as Editor of Cricketnext.com was widely appreciated.
His cricket assignments include matches of the 1996 World Cup and the 2007 Twenty20 World Championship apart from a number of Test matches and One Day Internationals in India and overseas. He has been a journeyman on the domestic circuit for a number of years.
Rao also dabbles in fiction. His book ‘India Beckons and Other Stories’, published in 2006, was a criticially applauded work.
He can be contacted at: rajrao70@gmail.com