Born on July 7, 1981, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, Dhoni grew up in a humble family. His father, Pankaj Dhoni, was a junior manager at a local railway station, and his mother, Sarla Dhoni, was a homemaker. Dhoni's early life was marked by struggles, with his family facing financial difficulties. Despite these challenges, Dhoni's parents encouraged his passion for cricket, which began when he was just 10 years old.