MS Dhoni, the batsman, is hailed as perhaps the best finisher the world has ever seen in international cricket because of some of his amazing innings. His batting maestro is often foreshadowed by his ‘cool’ captaincy skills. Dhoni’s statistics as a batsman are mind-blowing both in international & franchise cricket. He boasts an average of over 50 with more than 10000 runs in ODI cricket even after playing at the 5th-7th position for the better part of his career.
We have all placed our hopes on MS Dhoni countless times to prevent the Indian batting line-up from collapsing. His gritty contributions with the lower order had snatched the victory out of the opponent’s jaw & had made the impossible feel possible. After Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni became the glue for Indian cricket lovers to watch the match until the end.
Here are 5 of MS Dhoni’s best innings in international cricket:
91 vs Sri Lanka, World Cup 2011
Chasing a target of 275, India lost three wickets at the score of 114 & the match was leaning a bit towards the Lankans. Much to everyone’s surprise, Indian captain MS Dhoni, who was not in a sublime touch during the tournament, decided to promote himself over Yuvraj Singh. He was on a mission to take his team home with his batting prowess. He scored 91 in 79 balls and ensured that India lifted the ODI World Cup after 28 years. He was adjudged man of the match for his blistering knock filled with counterattack. Dhoni’s six over Nuwan Kulasekara to win the World Cup for India is immortalized in every Indian’s memory forever.
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224 vs Australia, 1st Test, Australia Tour of India, 2013
MS Dhoni’s 224 is still the highest score by an Indian wicket-keeper in International cricket. Trailing Australia’s 380, Dhoni stepped foot on the crease when India was 196/4. He formed a partnership of 128 runs with Virat Kohli for the 5th wicket. Dhoni counterattacked the lethal Australian bowling line-up and kept the scoreboard ticking at a healthy rate. His innings were studded with 24 fours and 6 sixes. He helped India secure a lead of 198 runs in the first innings, which ultimately led to India’s eight-wicket victory over the Kangaroos.
134 vs England, 2nd ODI, England Tour of India, 2016/17
India was 25-3 when the famous duo of MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh took it upon themselves to seal the series for India. They added 256 for the 4th wicket before the fall of Yuvraj Singh at the score of 281. However, Dhoni looked in no hurry to join his partner in the dugout & continued hammering the English bowling line-up. He scored 134 off 122 laced with 6 monstrous sixes and 10 fours. India scored 381-6 & won the match by 15 runs. Even though Yuvraj Singh was awarded man of the match for his knock of 150, Dhoni’s contribution was equally significant in securing the series win.
183 vs Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI, Sri Lanka Tour of India, 2005
When scores above 250 were considered to be mammoth, Sri Lanka posed 298 against India. In reply, India lost Sachin Tendulkar at the score of 7, making way for the majestic inning of M.S. Dhoni. He scored 183* off 145 balls, consisting of 15 fours and 10 sixes. He registered the highest score ever for a wicket-keeper batsman in One-day Internationals, a record that still stands. He always kept India ahead of the game by his fearless striking of the ball & made sure that India cruised towards victory. This innings established him as a player of substance among the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Ganguly, and Rahul Dravid.
148 vs Pakistan, 2nd ODI, Pakistan Tour of India, 2004/05
After getting out cheaply in his first four innings in International cricket, MS Dhoni was promoted to No.3 in his fifth outing for the Men in Blue. Under immense pressure to showcase his talent at the international level, Dhoni kept his mind level-headed and obliterated Pakistan’s bowling line-up star-studded with the likes of Mohammad Sami, Abdul Razzaq & Naved-ul-Hasan, etc. He went on to score 148 off 123, including 15 fours and 4 sixes. He propelled India’s score to 356, a massive total than in cricket. India won the match comfortably by 58 runs & Dhoni was awarded player of the match for his brilliant batting display. This innings cemented his place in the Indian batting line-up & opened up the pathways for his great success.