Prime Minister Naendra Modi, in an emotional letter written to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, praised the former Indian skipper and called him a phenomenon. In the letter, PM Modi acknowledged Dhoni's contribution towards cricket and highlighted how big an impact he left on the national discourse. PM Modi also hailed the human aspect of the 39-year-old as well as his bond with his daughter Ziva. 

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“The name MS Dhoni will not be remembered merely for his career statistics or specific match-winning roles. Looking at you just as a sportsman would be injustice. Correct way to assess your impact is as a phenomenon,” the letter read. 

PM Modi also hailed Dhoni’s love for the armed forces. For those unaware, Dhoni even served in the army for a while after the conclusion of 2019 ODI World Cup. 

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The Indian PM also highlighted the importance of maintaining a work-life balance the way Dhoni did while also maintaining a cool and calm demeanour, which the 2011 Word Cup-winning Indian captain exemplifies. The letter also shed light on the fact that someone from a small town -- like Dhoni from Ranchi -- went on to achieve unthinkable things for the country. 

An image of this letter was shared on Twitter by Dhoni himself.  

"An Artist, Soldier and Sportsperson what they crave for is appreciation, that their hard work and sacrifice is getting noticed and appreciated by everyone. Thanks PM @narendramodi for your appreciation and good wishes,” the tweet read.

Dhoni had announced his retirement on August 15. The wicketkeeper batsman will continue to represent the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 season that begins on September 19.