10 Instances When MS Dhoni Single-Handedly Helped India To Win

Jul 6, 2020 at 12:48 PM

facebook iconlinkedin iconmail icontwitter iconWhatsApp iconTelegram icon
10 Instances When MS Dhoni Single-Handedly Helped India To Win

10 Instances When MS Dhoni Single-Handedly Helped India To Win; Gone are those days when Mahendra Singh Dhoni, with a long hair, coming up in the order to smash the bowlers out of the park with ease. Slowly, he himself sacrifices the place to become the finisher for the Indian National Cricket Team.

Despite batting down the order, MS Dhoni was never an easy customer for the opposition bowling attacks. Back then when the T20 game is yet to take the boost, he used to bat like a wonder to give those scintillating victories for the team. Let’s rewind the 10 Whirlwind knocks played by MS Dhoni to seal the deal for India as MS Dhoni turns another page in his life.

10 Instances When MS Dhoni Single-Handedly Helped India To Win:

10. 148* against Pakistan in 2005, Visakhapatnam:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni Photo Credit: Getty Images.

This was the knock, which was one of the factors why Mahendra Singh Dhoni always loves to play at Visakhapatnam. The knock came back then when the cricketing ties between India and Pakistan are going strong.

The second match of 5-match ODI series against Pakistan was played at Visakhapatnam on 5 April. This was the match when Dhoni was launched. At a time, when the people were disheartened to find Tendulkar and Ganguly get out too soon, Dhoni was unbeaten scoring 113. With 15 boundaries and 4 over boundaries, he helped India score 356 on the board.

His innings of 148 off just 123 came at a strike-rate of 120.32 included 15 fours and four mammoth sixes. In the end, India won the match by 58 runs and the wicketkeeper-batsman was awarded the player of the match trophy.

9. 124 Runs against Australia in 2009, Nagpur:

Google

This was during the five-match bilateral ODI series in Nagpur. After two openers Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag could not score much and got out in a few overs, MS Dhoni scored 124 out of 107 balls and changed the game. India was at 97/3 when Dhoni came to bat. With boundaries and over-boundaries, Dhoni made India reach 354 runs.

The unconventional batsman started off slow but after settling in the crease, he launched himself into fifth gear. By the time he was out caught behind he accumulated 124 runs off just 107 balls and more importantly set up a solid platform for India to post a mammoth target.

Eventually, the Indian National Cricket Team won the match by 99 runs and the Indian captain was rightfully awarded the player of the match.

8. 72* against Pakistan in 2006, Lahore:

Google

India’s tour of Pakistan in 2005/06 can be said as a breakthrough series for MS Dhoni as a batsman and as a successful chaser. Chasing 289 at the Gaddafi Stadium is never an easy task with the Blues reeling at 190 for 5 at one stage after 35 overs. The match rested on the shoulders of Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh to guide home.

Dhoni was at his destructive best in that game as he completed his half-century in just 35 balls. An expert partnership between the two meant India chase down the total with 14 balls to spare. MS scored 72 from 46 balls which included 13 fours.

The match is best remembered for the hairstyle of MS Dhoni. Yeah. it was when Pakistan President Musharaf asked the former Indian skipper to maintain his hairstyle.

7. 92 against South Africa in 2015:

Photo by Ron Gaunt / BCCI / SPORTZPICS

India were 1-0 down in the 5-match series against South Africa at home. They needed to come back in the second ODI at Indore.

After being reduced to 104-5, India had to reach a decent target. Dhoni with his knock of 92 that included 7 fours and 4 sixes took India to 247-9 in 50 overs. The target proved sufficient as the Proteas were 225 all out. The player of the match had to be Dhoni, and he was.

6. 101* against Bangladesh in 2010:

MS Dhoni, Top 10 Records, Birthday
Photo Credit: Getty Images.

At Mirpur, Bangladesh chose to bat first. Chasing 297, Sehwag, Gambhir and Yuvraj were out in first few over. And then Dhoni came to the rescue. He concentrated on singles and scored an unbeaten 101.

When the captain came into bat, the team was reeling at 51/3 and desperately needed a partnership. The 34-year-old first steadied the ship along with Virat Kohli. The added pressure of chasing did not shake the nerves of the finisher Dhoni as he kept on going even after Kohli got out.

Along with Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni stood like a warrior in the middle to help the Indian team to seal victory with 15 balls to spare. It was truly a heroic knock.

5. 44* against Australia in 2012, Adelaide:

MS Dhoni (Credits: Getty)

None would forget the six he smashed at Adelaide. Batting first, Australia compiled a defendable 8-269 from their 50 overs, thanks largely to a 98-run partnership from Peter Forrest and David Hussey.

In reply, Gambhir made a majestic 92 to have the visitors on track for victory, but a steady bowling performance by the Aussies kept the game in the balance. And it came down to 13 runs required from the final over, with Clint McKay taking on the master Dhoni.

The Indian skipper, who hadn’t hit a boundary in creeping to 33 from 55 balls before the final over, dispatched the third delivery onto the famous Adelaide Oval hill, one of the biggest sixes ever hit at the venue, and then secured the win with two balls to spare.

4. 45* against Sri Lanka in 2013, Port of Spain:

(SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

Chasing a very achievable 202 for victory, India seemed in total control as they reached 3-139 in the 32nd over. But the dismissal of Rohit Sharma to crafty left-arm spinner Rangana Herath sparked a middle-order collapse that left India reeling at 9-182.

Needing 15 from the last over and with just No.11 Ishant Sharma for company, Dhoni was on strike and not all hope was lost. After all, he was at the peak of his career and already tagged as the best finisher of the game.

And ‘Captain Cool’ delivered, hitting the second ball of the over for six, the next ball for four and he finished the game in style by hitting the fourth ball for another six, igniting boisterous celebrations in the Indian dressing room.

3. 91* against Sri Lanka in 2011, Mumbai:

Google

Who can forget this epic knock? Though it is not the single-handed effort, it was a sensational knock, as Gambhir played his part. The knock which helped the Indian team to lift the trophy after 28 years of wait.

After India had lost their third wicket for 114 runs in the 22nd over, it was imperative to play a knock in the company of Gautam Gambhir that will take India to the verge of victory if not take them the whole distance. The challenge of the middle overs had to be negotiated and it was critical not to lose wickets.

Dhoni, who had been through a rough patch not only through the tournament but for the last year, then stepped up promoting himself to the No. 5 position. He played himself in without losing sight of the run rate, picking up the singles and converting the twos.

Despite cramps and discomfort, the Indian captain displayed just the calm he is known for as he egged on Gambhir to play his natural game. The knock will always be close to MS Dhoni’s heart.

2. 224 against Australia in 2013, Chennai:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, MS Dhoni
Google

Australian captain Michael Clarke won the toss and decided that they will bat first. They got to a competitive 380, thanks to a magnificent captain’s knock of 130 from Clarke coupled with the fifties from Warner and Henriques.

In reply, India got to the worst possible start, losing both Vijay and Sehwag as the scorecard read 12/2. Pujara scored a fine 44 and Tendulkar chipped in with a delicious 81 but missed out on a hundred that was there for the taking.

India were 196/4 when their skipper MS Dhoni joined Virat Kohli in the crease. Though Dhoni started off slowly during the initial phase of his knock, as Kohli was looking in fine touch at the other end. Dhoni’s first boundary came through a lofted shot over mid-on off Lyon.

He went on to finish with a magical 224. An interesting fact to this is MS Dhoni got to his only double hundred in Tests on 24th February 2013, the exact date in which Sachin Tendulkar also got his only double hundred in ODIs three years back.

1. 183* against Sri Lanka, Jaipur:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, MS Dhoni
Image Courtesy: Twitter

On October 31 in 2005, MS Dhoni blasted his way to his career-best ODI score of 183 against Sri Lanka at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur.

Dhoni had already announced his arrival when he hammered 148 off 123 balls against Pakistan in April 2005. That knock established Dhoni as a reliable batsman.However, what followed was a series of low scores until he struck two fifties in a tri-series in Zimbabwe to get back into rhythm.

In the third ODI of the 7-match series, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 298/4 after electing to bat. India did not get an ideal start as Sachin Tendulkar departed in the first over leaving the hosts 7/1.

Dhoni was promoted to bat at No.3 and after a watchful first 7 deliveries he faced, Dhoni unleashed the beast inside him to hit a six over cover off Chaminda Vaas to get India up and running.

The batsman from Jharkhand scored an unbeaten 183 runs off just 145 balls with a strike-rate of 126.20. He also hammered 15 superb boundaries along with 10 huge sixes in that unforgettable innings. This innings still remains as the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper in an ODI match.

Related Article
Stuart Binny Retires From 1st Class And Int’l Cricket
Stuart Binny Retires From 1st Class And Int’l Cricket

Aug 30, 2021, 1:59 PM


IPL 2021 Suspended: Mahendra Singh Dhoni Wants To Be The Last Man To Leave Hotel And Board Flight Home
IPL 2021 Suspended: Mahendra Singh Dhoni Wants To Be The Last Man To Leave Hotel And Board Flight Home

May 6, 2021, 1:40 PM


I Salute You Lieutenant Colonel MS Dhoni: Ravi Shastri
I Salute You Lieutenant Colonel MS Dhoni: Ravi Shastri

Aug 17, 2020, 3:43 PM


“Faster Than Any Pickpocket” As Wicketkeeper: Ravi Shastri On MS Dhoni
“Faster Than Any Pickpocket” As Wicketkeeper: Ravi Shastri On MS Dhoni

Aug 16, 2020, 2:27 PM


Hope BCCI Retires Number 7 Jersey: Dinesh Karthik Wishes MS Dhoni Good Luck For Next Phase Of Life
Hope BCCI Retires Number 7 Jersey: Dinesh Karthik Wishes MS Dhoni Good Luck For Next Phase Of Life

Aug 16, 2020, 11:24 AM


Tamannaah Bhatia Reveals Her Favourite Cricketer And IPL Team
Tamannaah Bhatia Reveals Her Favourite Cricketer And IPL Team

Nov 29, 2019, 5:20 AM


Desktop Banner
Mobile Banner