Pan Singh Dhoni
Pan Singh Dhoni is the father of legendary Indian cricketer MS Dhoni. He hails from Lwali village in Uttarakhand (formerly Uttar Pradesh) and later settled in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Pan Singh worked at MECON, a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Steel, where he held a junior management position before retiring. Pan Singh and his wife, Devaki Devi, have three children: Narendra Singh Dhoni (elder son), Jayanti Gupta (daughter), and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (youngest son). As a parent, Pan Singh emphasized the importance of education and discipline. He was known for being strict and regimented, which deeply influenced MS Dhoni’s upbringing. Dhoni has recalled that he was quite afraid of his father’s stern presence, which instilled in him a sense of discipline and punctuality. Initially, Pan Singh was not supportive of MS Dhoni’s cricket ambitions, preferring that his son focus on academics and secure a stable government job. He was particularly proud when Dhoni became a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) at Kharagpur railway station, seeing it as a secure career path. However, as Dhoni’s passion for cricket became evident and his mother and sister supported him, Pan Singh eventually accepted and supported his son’s sporting career. Pan Singh has largely stayed out of the public eye, maintaining a private and simple lifestyle. He is occasionally seen at major family events or cricket matches, especially after MS Dhoni’s rise to fame. His role as a disciplined and supportive father is often credited as a foundational influence in shaping MS Dhoni’s character and success.