Mahendra Singh Dhoni: A timeline

It is learnt the Indian team was informed about Dhoni’s retirement only in the dressing room after the Test.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

December 2, 2005: Debut against Sri Lanka in Chennai. Makes 30 off 54 balls

December 12, 2005: Scores his first Test fifty (51 not out off 51 balls) at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi.

January 26, 2006: With India in trouble at 281 for five, in reply to Pakistan's 588, Dhoni smashes 148 (153 b) to help his team post 603. The Test is drawn.

July 23, 2007: Helps draw a Test at Lord's with an unbeatent patient 76. Chasing 380, India was 145 for five with over three hours left. Dhoni bats for 203 minutes and his 10th wicket stand of 19 with Sreesanth seeks a never-wrecking draw in the series opener.

April 11, 2008: Leads in a Test for the first time in Anil Kumble's absence. India beats South Africa inside three days at Kanpur.

October 21, 2008: In his second match as captain, Dhoni wins his first man-of-the-match award for his 92 and scores 68 not out in a 130-run win in the second Test against Australia at Mohali.

November 6, 2008: Takes charge as full-time skipper after Kumble's retirement. India beats Australia by 172 runs in Nagpur to win the series 2-0.

December 23, 2008: In his first full series as captain, leads India to a 1-0 win over England.

April 7, 2009; Becomes only the second Indian captain in 41 years to win a Test series in New Zealand.

December 6, 2009: Following a 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka, India becomes No.1 in the Test rankings for the first time. He scores an unbeaten 100 off 154 balls in a mammoth total of 726 for nine declared.

February 18, 2010: India retains its No.1 ranking with an innings win over South Africa at Eden Gardens. Dhoni scores 132 not out off 187 balls in India's 643 for six in series-levelling win.

January 6, 2011: India draws its first Test series on South African soil.

August 22, 2011 : India loses No.1 ranking after suffering a 4-0 whitewash against England.

January 2012: Suffers another 4-0 whitewash, this time in Australia.

December 17, 2013: A rare failure at home as England wins the four Test series 2-1. India's first home Test series loss in 28 years.

February 24, 2013: Hits a rollicking maiden double-century (224) against Australia in Chennai. It is the highest score by an wicketkeeper-captain and the best by an Indian keeper. India wins the match.

March 5, 2013: Dhoni becomes India's most successful captain with 22 wins. An innings and 135 run win over Australia in Hyderabad takes hm past Sourav Ganguly's record of 21.

March 24, 2013: Oversees India's first Test series whitewash over Australia.

December 30, 2013: A third consecutive overseas Test series loss as India goes down 1-0 in South Africa.

February 2014: India loses a Test and the series to NZ after 12- years — a fourth straight overseas defeat.

July 21, 2014: India wins at Lord's for the first time in 28 years.

August 17, 2014 : A three-day defeat at The Oval sees India lose to England 3-1, a fifth straight away series loss under Dhoni.

December 30, 2014. Shortly after India loses its sixth consecutive overseas Test series, Dhoni announces his retirement from Test cricket.