Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey
Top 5: MS Dhoni’s Best ODI Knocks | Remembering the best knocks – which innings is MS Dhoni’s best ever ODI knock over his career?
When you make a list of all-time great one day players, MS Dhoni should be there. If not, it would be incomplete. Such was his impact on this particular format.
Often regarded as one of the best finishers world cricket has ever seen, Dhoni’s ODI numbers justify his impact, with over 10,000 runs in the format at an average of 50.58. It’s amazing for a batsman, who has batted mostly in the middle-lower order for his team, to have that kind of record, which tells you a lot about his ability.
Whether it was setting up a total or chasing a score, Dhoni was always up for the task. Here, we look at the top five innings of the former Indian captain in ODIs.
Also read: Twitter tributes flow after MS Dhoni announced his international retirement
5. 113* (125) vs Pakistan, Chennai, 2012
India was up against their arch-rivals Pakistan in a three-match ODI series in 2012. The first match was at Chennai. After winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bowl first, and that decision was proven right by the opening spells of Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan, who ran through India’s batting lineup and reduced them to 29-5.
And then walks Dhoni, who initially took his time to settle in, taking calculative risks. Batting with the tail, he took India to a respectable total of 227. He made sure that India batted the full quota of 50 overs and eventually ended up with 113 not out off 125 balls. His efforts went in vain as Pakistan went on to win the game, but this innings proved his expertise to build an entire team’s batting effort on his own.
4. 72 (46) vs Pakistan, Lahore, 2006
Many believe that this tour was the breakthrough series for MS Dhoni. In the third ODI, Pakistan scored 289 while batting first in a jam-packed Gaddafi Stadium. Against the pace battery of Pakistan, this was always going to be a tough task and India’s chase was derailed when they lost two quick wickets early on.
With close to a hundred runs still to chase, Dhoni came in at 7 when Kaif got out for a single-digit score. MSD produced a brilliant half-century in just 35 balls. A partnership of 102 runs between Dhoni and Yuvraj made sure that India chased down the target with 14 balls to spare. Dhoni finished the game with a boundary off Razzaq’s bowling. MS scored an unbeaten 72 off 46 balls which included 13 fours and was awarded as the player of the match.
3. 124 (107) vs Australia, Nagpur, 2009
The second game of the seven-match series between India and Australia at Nagpur saw Dhoni play a vital 124-run knock off 107 balls to take the Indian score to 354-7 in 50 overs. The opening pair of Sehwag and Gambhir gave a brisk start and when Dhoni came in, he immediately took matters into his hands.
Dhoni hit three sixes and nine fours in his innings of 124. India eventually won that match by 99 runs, but it was Dhoni’s century that had done the major damage. This was the same match when Johnson collided with the Indian skipper and then he went berserk against the visitors. He won the Man of the Match award as well for his splendid innings. In the process, he became the first Indian captain to hit an ODI ton against Australia.
2. 183* (145) vs Sri Lanka, Jaipur, 2005
After already leading the seven-match ODI series 2-0, the Indian team was confident of making it 3-0 against the Marvan Atapattu-led Sri Lanka team. Chasing a challenging total of 299, India lost the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar for a single-digit score, before Dhoni walked in at 3.
He didn’t take much time before launching himself against the Lankan bowlers. Sehwag uncharacteristically was playing the supporting role, and even after Sehwag’s dismissal, Dhoni continued to attack from one end and went on to score his second ODI hundred. Dhoni’s innings of 183 off 145 balls made sure that India chased down the target with 23 balls still left in the bank. This was one hell of a knock from him, as he never looked out of control and this innings will always be remembered for his clean ball striking.
1. 91* (79) vs Sri Lanka, Mumbai, 2011
A full house at the Wankhede. The Final. Scoreboard pressure. Confident Sri Lankan team. There is not a shred of doubt that Dhoni’s 91* in the 2011 ICC World Cup Final is his greatest knock ever.
Sri Lanka posted a challenging total of 275 runs to chase for the Indian team. And they suffered a huge blow when Sehwag was given out LBW for a duck, followed by Sachin’s departure, who was caught behind off Malinga’s bowling. Dhoni, who didn’t have a great World Cup before that match, bravely promoted himself ahead of Yuvraj Singh, who was in the brilliant form right through the tournament. This gamble paid as his 91* off just 79 deliveries helped India win their first ICC World Cup in 28 years. What probably was the biggest match of his international career, that innings was even more special because of the occasion.
”DHONI Finishes Off In Style!! A Magnificent strike into the Crowd…India lifts the World Cup after 28 years. The party started In the dressing room and It’s The INDIAN CAPTAIN who has been absolutely magnificent in the night of the FINAL.”
Iconic words which will be there in the hearts of every Indian cricket fan.
So, there are five of MS Dhoni’s best ODI knocks. Do any others come to mind?
Written by Vaibhav Tripathi. Follow Vaibhav on Twitter today.
