Of Kismat and Karma: Dhoni in '7th' heaven

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of the most successful captains of India. With a little bit of luck, a dash of charm and a lot of thinking out of the box, he is become an icon of modern India.

There are a lot of things that make Dhoni the person almost endearing. His modesty and his ability to maintain composure -- be it after winning the T20 World Championship in 2007 or the 2011 Cricket World Cup -- has seen him gain respect of young and old alike.

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But Dhoni has also had to face a few hard times -- the Sehwag controversy in 2009 and the run-ins with umpires and opposition regarding DRS. But, with a dollop of luck, he has come out of these contentious situations unscathed.

So, luck does play a huge factor in Dhoni's karma, and that the man is superstitions is evident from his love for the number '7'.

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With Dhoni's birthday falling on July 7 (7/7), the digit has been of great significance to his life.

Be it in India colours or in the IPL, Dhoni has the number 7 printed on the back of his jersey.

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You can say that the number has definitely brought him a much-deserved share of good fortune.

If one can recount correctly, Dhoni hit jackpot very early in his career as captain. Under his leadership India won the T20 World Championship, beating Pakistan in the final.

That was the year 2007. Here again the '7' factor is evident.

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Another interesting fact that shows Dhoni's connection with the number is the date on which he was appointed India captain.

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The announcement of his elevation to captaincy was made on a rather auspicious date for the Ranchi lad -- August 7, 2007.

The mystery of the lucky number '7' does not end there. Dhoni kicked off his international career, batting at No 7 -- in Tests and ODI's. What more is there to prove that the number has been his fortune maker all these years?

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Dhoni's love for the number is not just restricted to the cricket field. The dashing Indian captain wears a diamond-studded No 7 pendant, to further prove his loyalty to the number.

- Wish Dhoni on his 30th birthday

A soccer-lover, one of Dhoni's favourite footballers is Cristiano Ronaldo. Incidentally, like Dhoni, Ronaldo also sports a No 7 jersey. Is it the number that connects them? May be!

Mahi is widely known as a speed freak and has a penchant for bikes and cars. His garage got a recent resident in a Hummer and the number 7 plays a part here too.

Be it his Pajero, Scorpio, or his bike collection, all have the '7' connection. The number plates of this fabulous fleet of cars have 0007 on them.

Is Dhoni inspired by the James Bond franchise? Your guess is as good as ours!

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