Dhanraj was born as the fourth son of Nagalingam Pillay and Andanamma at Kirkee in Maharashtra. A bachelor, he lives in Powai. He was born in India to Tamil parents.
Pillay spent his youth in the Ordinance Factory staff colony in ,where his father was a groundsman. Playing on the soft, muddy surface of the OFK ground with his brothers and friends from the colony, he learnt his skills with broken sticks and discarded hockey balls, imitating the style of legendary forward and idol, Mohammed Shahid. His mother, whom he gives all the credit for his greatness, encouraged all her five sons to play hockey despite leading a hand-to-mouth existence. Dhanraj moved to Mumbai in the mid-eighties to join his elder brother Ramesh, who was playing for RCF in the Mumbai league. Ramesh had already played for India in international matches, and his guidance helped Dhanraj develop as a potent, speedy striker. He then moved over to Mahindra & Mahindra where he was tutored by India defender, Joaquim Carvalho.
Dhanraj Pillay's debut in international hockey was in 1989 when he represented the nation on the Allwyn Asia Cup in New Delhi.
Dhanraj Pillay, whose career spanned from December 1989 to August 2004, played 339 international matches. The Indian Hockey Federation keeps no official statistics for the goals scored. There is no credible information on the number of International goals scored by Dhanraj. He reckons it is more than 170, but a leading hockey statistician insists it is closer to 120.
He is the only player to have played in four Olympics (1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004), four World Cups (1990, 1994, 1998, and 2002), four Champions Trophies (1995, 1996, 2002, and 2003), and four Asian Games (1990, 1994, 1998, and 2002). India won the Asian Games (1998) and Asia Cup (2003) under his captaincy. He was also the highest goal scorer in the Bangkok Asian Games and was the only Indian player to figure in the World Eleven side during the 1994 World Cup at Sydney.
He is the only player to have played in four Olympics (1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004), four World Cups (1990, 1994, 1998, and 2002), four Champions Trophies (1995, 1996, 2002, and 2003), and four Asian Games (1990, 1994, 1998, and 2002). India won the Asian Games (1998) and Asia Cup (2003) under his captaincy. He was also the highest goal scorer in the Bangkok Asian Games and was the only Indian player to figure in the World Eleven side during the 1994 World Cup at Sydney.
He is the recipient of India's highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award for the year 1999-2000. He was awarded the Padma Shri, a civilian award in 2000. Dhanraj is one of the most gifted forwards of his era with a small frame and flowing locks, he could wreak havoc in rival defences. He was the winning captain of the victorious Asian Games 2002 hockey team. He was awarded the player of the tournament award in the 2002 Champions trophy held at Cologne, Germany.
Pillay is currently involved in trying to start a hockey academy at Bombay. To raise funds for his academy he is heading a drive to collect empty plastic printer cartridges in Bombay and sell them to a European recycling firm.
Pillay is currently involved in trying to start a hockey academy at Bombay. To raise funds for his academy he is heading a drive to collect empty plastic printer cartridges in Bombay and sell them to a European recycling firm.
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