MS Dhoni’s physique and fitness at 41 leaves internet mesmerised

Despite being 41 years old and away from the international cricket circuit for several years, Mahendra Singh Dhoni still looks extremely muscular and strong.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of the fittest athletes to have graced the Indian national cricket team. Although Virat Kohli gets a lot of love and adulation for his commitment to fitness and healthy diet, MS Dhoni was one of the first individuals to bring about and promote the culture of fitness and professionalism in the Indian team.

Under his captaincy, India not only won all three ICC trophies but also played a great brand of cricket and his players were hungry and left their heart and soul on the pitch. Of course, Dhoni himself has also been way ahead of the curve and he has carried himself extremely well throughout his own career.

The former Indian captain used to go to great lengths to keep himself fit and driven. However, fans were left surprised when a picture of MSD batting in the nets for CSK went viral just ahead of IPL 2023. In that picture, Dhoni looks as strong as an ox and his biceps were bulging out of his arms.

So, how does MSD still keep himself so fit and muscular at this age? Let’s find out:

The first thing that one has to realise is that MS Dhoni is genetically gifted and he has a good base of strength and fitness. Former Indian strength and conditioning coach Basu Shanker attributes Dhoni’s muscle mass, height, and physical stature to his pahadi genes (since his extended family hails from the hills).

Dhoni has also been an athlete throughout his life. While cricket may be his first love and his profession, the boy from Jharkhand also played a lot of football, tennis, and other sports. This provided his body with the necessary conditioning to excel in athletics and built a great foundation to work on.

Moreover, Dhoni also has great knowledge about bodybuilding and fitness and that is one of the reasons why Basu Shanker never interfered with his regime in the gym. MSD never compromised on his strength and conditioning routine and a report in the Times of India even stated that Dhoni chooses exercises that helped him improve his bone density, cardiovascular conditioning as well as strength.

These include popular compound exercises like V Grip pull down, Dumbbell chest press,  Machine Chest Press, One leg Deadlifts, and various kinds of lunges. The former Indian captain also loves to run and that improves his cardio and conditioning.

Finally, the most important factor that helps Dhoni stay in tip-top shape even at this age is his focus on fitness and the strict lifestyle that he follows. MSD is aware that there is no room for errors when it comes to diet and nutrition and that he needs to stay committed.

With age, he has understood and realised the changes that his body underwent.

"You cannot do the same things and expect different results. Yes, food habits have changed. When I made my debut, it used to be butter chicken, naan and milkshakes with lots of chocolates and soft drinks. Once I turned 28, the chocolate was off, the milkshake was off. After (quitting) Test cricket, all the healthy food came in. The bread, the kebabs all those things came in," said Dhoni.