Dhoni Special: Five most memorable knocks of Captain Cool
In a glorious career that lasted over 15 years, ‘Captain Cool’ Mahendra Singh Dhoni represented India in 90 Tests, 350 ODIs and 98 T20Is. During his marvellous journey from an unknown Ranchi-local boy to winning billions of hearts, Dhoni played many memorable innings.
Let’s take a look some of the best knocks to have come out of Dhoni’s willow:
5. 224 versus Australia, 2013
Dhoni’s abilities in the longest format of the game were put to question by many. In the larger opinion, Dhoni was always a limited-overs wonder but not an able batsman in Tests. This was one knock that shut the mouth of many of his critics. It was the first Test in a 4-match series against Australia at the dusty, red-soil pitch of Chennai. Australia batted first and India was trailing by 380 runs after Australia’s first innings.
India looked troubled at 196/4, but that was the end of it. Dhoni walked in and played one of the finest knocks of his career as he tackled both spinners and pacers with equal ease. He went on to slam a double century and ended up no sooner than 224 off 265 deliveries. India eventually won the match by 8 wickets.
4. 113* versus Pakistan, 2012
Unlike his previous blistering knocks, this one was a testament of calmness, grit, composure, and discipline. Dhoni of 2012 was a changed man and he had come a long way from being a long-haired beginner to one of the finest finishers of the game. Pakistan’s bowling line-up had jolted India to 29/5 in Chennai.
With Gambhir, Sehwag, Kohli, Yuvraj, and Rohit back in the hut, Dhoni walked in at 6 with some rebellious ideas and joined Suresh Raina in the middle. He scripted a talismanic knock of 113* in 125 deliveries and dragged India to a respectable total of 227/6. Although India eventually lost the match, this knock spoke volumes about Dhoni, the batsman.
3. 148* versus Pakistan, 2005
A young and inexperienced Dhoni was under pressure this time as this was his 5th ODI and scores of 0, 12, 7*and 3 after debut did not help his case. The stakes were sky-high for this was against arch-rivals Pakistan. Skipper Sourav Ganguly backed him and decided to promote him at No. 3 and the rest is history. Dhoni went completely berserk and tore apart the Pakistani line-up as he slammed 15 fours and 4 tall sixes to reach 148 off 123. Courtesy his scintillating knock, India posted a monstrous total of 356/9 and dismissed Pakistan for 298 to pocket the match by 58 runs.
2. 183* vs Sri Lanka, 2005
These were the good old days of Dhoni. A time when he was an entirely different Dhoni than what we saw of him later. The Sawai Mansingh Stadium was lit up by Sangakkara’s 138* through which Sri Lanka posted a daunting 298/4.
After losing Sachin Tendulkar early, a young Dhoni was promoted up the order and was sent in at No. 3. The long-haired bludgeoner came out all guns blazing against the Lankan attack and blasted off, to say the least. MSD slapped 10 gigantic sixes and 15 boundaries to stay unbeaten on 183 off 145 as India won the match with 23 balls to spare.
1. 91* vs Sri Lanka, 2011
“DHONI!! Finishes off in style, and India lifts the World Cup after 28 years…!”
These words by Ravi Shastri will reverberate in the ears of cricket fans till eternity. It was an all-important World Cup final, and it just does not get any bigger than that. Doing what he does the best, Dhoni raised eyebrows as he walked in ahead of the in-form Yuvraj Singh to join Gautam Gambhir in the middle.
Chasing 275 to win glory against Sri Lanka at Wankhede, Dhoni continued to play until he ensured that the team crossed the finish line. He smothered Nuwan Kulasekara for a massive six, flying over long-on to seal the match and remain unbeaten on 91 off 79.
