High on MSD: A look back at Dhoni's Test career in pics

In what has come as a shock to Indian cricket followers, MS Dhoni has announced his retirement from Tests following a series defeat against Australia. Although he looked out of place in Test cricket, Dhoni won 27 Tests as captain, more than any of his predecessors.

In what has come as a shock to Indian cricket followers, MS Dhoni has announced his retirement from Tests following a series defeat against Australia. Although he looked out of place in Test cricket, Dhoni won 27 Tests as captain, more than any of his predecessors.

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Here are some highlights of his career in pictures:

Dhoni made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2005, scoring 30 in the rain-hit match in Chennai.

He went on to play 90 Tests for India, amassing 4876 runs at a 38-plus average, hitting six centuries and 33 fifties.

Dhoni's highest Test score of 224 came against Australia in February 2013.

Under his captaincy, India won the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in 2007, the 50-over World Cup in 2011 and remained the number one Test team for 18 months from December 2009.

Although he was unorthodox with the gloves he took 256 catches and contributed 38 stumpings to become India's most successful stumper.

Known for his penchant to seal a victory with a six, Dhoni's trademark "helicopter" shot has amused fans who have also hailed his unflappable temperament.

India's string of away Test defeats remains a blot on his captaincy records, though.

The emergence of Virat Kohli lead to call for him to step down from Test cricket.

He surpassed retired great Sachin Tendulkar as the highest-earning Indian sportsman but remains a fiercely private person.