Former Indian hockey team captain and great player Dhanraj Pillay is celebrating his 53rd birthday today. Pillay was born on this day i.e. on 16 July 1968 in the Khadki district of Pune district of Maharashtra. He is also called Kapil Dev of Hockey. Pillay was a brilliant forward. Dhanraj knew the art of agility and deceiving the opposition team very well. He played 339 matches for India and scored 170 goals. Dhanraj was also the flag bearer of the great tradition of Indian hockey.

Dhanraj Pillay had 5 brothers. The financial condition of the family was also not impressive. He had also started playing by making wooden sticks as hockey sticks. He started his international career in 1989 and represented India for 15 years. For his contribution in the year 2000, the Government of India has awarded him the Padma Shri in 2000.

He represented India in four Olympics (1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004), four World Cups (1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002), four Champions Trophy (1995, 1996, 2002 and 2003) and four Asian Games (1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002). He is the only player to do so.

The command of the 1998 Asian Games and the 2003 Asia Cup winning hockey team was also in the hands of Dhanraj. In the year 2002, when the Champions Trophy was played in Germany, Dhanraj was the player of the tournament.

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