MS Dhoni in Cuttack ODI against England, 2017 (Source: AFP)
The former legendary India skipper MS Dhoni ended his career as one of the most successful captains in limited-overs cricket. Before the World Test Championship was introduced, MS Dhoni was the only captain to win all ICC tournaments, including the T20 World Cup 2007, the ODI World Cup 2011, and the ICC Champions Trophy 2013.
Besides his legendary leadership, Dhoni also left an everlasting batting legacy that remains unattainable for many.
In his illustrious ODI career spanning more than 15 years, Dhoni achieved many milestones with the bat before his last ODI appearance in the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. He scored 10,773 runs in 297 innings of the 350 games, with an average of 50.57, hitting 10 centuries and 73 half-centuries.
Hence, here’s a look at MS Dhoni’s five best innings in ODIs during his career that started with a run-out and ended in the same way 15 years later.
MS Dhoni’s five best innings in ODIs
91* against Sri Lanka - Mumbai ODI, World Cup 2011 Final
After defeating the arch-rivals, Pakistan by 29 runs in the second semi-final, the MS Dhoni-led India were set to take on Sri Lanka in the ODI World Cup 2011 final.
The Sri Lanka skipper, Mahela Jayawardene, won the toss and decided to bat first. Furthermore, Jayawardene led his side with an exemplary knock (103) to post a total of 274 runs for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 50 overs.
While chasing the target, the Men in Blue were in a spot of bother, losing both of their openers at the score of 31 runs in 6.1 overs. However, Virat Kohli (35) and Gautam Gambhir (91) put in an effort to stabilize the innings with an 83-run partnership before Kohli fell prey to Tillakaratne Dilshan.
Kohli’s dismissal was the time when the cricket fans saw skipper MS Dhoni’s unprecedented decision as he promoted himself at number four over Yuvraj Singh in the summit clash.
Captain Cool went on to play a match-winning knock of 91 runs off 79 balls, with eight fours and two sixes to help India beat the Islanders by six wickets and lift their second World Cup title after 28 years. Dhoni also won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his knock.
183* against Sri Lanka - Jaipur ODI, 2005
Almost 10 months after his debut in December 2004, MS Dhoni played a historic ODI knock while playing for India against Sri Lanka in the third ODI of the seven-match series.
The Islanders’ skipper, Marvan Atapattu, won the toss and decided to bat first. Sri Lanka posted a big total of 298 runs for the loss of four wickets courtesy of Kumar Sangakkara’s 138 and Mahela Jayawardene’s 71.
While chasing the target, India faced an early blow in Sachin Tendulkar at the score of just seven runs in the first over.
Following the Master’s departure, MS Dhoni came into the middle at number three and stitched a crucial 92-run partnership for the second wicket with Virender Sehwag (39). Furthermore, Dhoni continued to smash the visiting bowlers across the ground to make India’s run chase look quite comfortable.
He smashed 183 runs off just 145 balls, with 15 fours and 10 massive sixes. On the back of Dhoni’s knock, India chased down the target in 46.1 overs, scoring 303 runs for the loss of four wickets and won the game by six wickets to take a lead of 3-0 in the seven-match series. Dhoni also won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his iconic 183-run knock.
148 against Pakistan - Visakhapatnam ODI, 2005
It was the time when the then-India skipper Sourav Ganguly gave a chance to young MS Dhoni after the latter was struggling with a string of low scores in the first four innings of his ODI career. India was taking on Pakistan in the second ODI of the five-match series in April 2005.
The hosts’ skipper, Ganguly, won the toss and decided to bat first. Young Dhoni was promoted up in the batting order at number three to prove himself, and he fully lived up to the skipper’s expectations. After India lost their first wicket at 26 runs, Virender Sehwag (74) and MS Dhoni stitched a much-needed partnership of 96 runs for the second wicket.
Furthermore, Dhoni went on to smash 148 runs off just 123 balls, with 15 fours and four sixes to announce his arrival in the ODI cricket. Dhoni’s knock propelled India to 356 runs for the loss of nine wickets in the first innings before they bundled out Pakistan at 298 runs and won the game by 58 runs. Dhoni was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’ for his memorable maiden century.
72 against Pakistan - Lahore ODI, 2006
After leveling the series with a seven-wicket win in Rawalpindi ODI, India took on Pakistan in the third ODI of the five-match series in 2006. The visiting skipper, Rahul Dravid, won the toss and invited the hosts to bat first. Shoaib Malik’s 108-run knock, followed by Abdul Razzaq’s 64 runs, helped Pakistan post a decent total of 288 runs for the loss of eight wickets.
While chasing the target, India looked in a bit of trouble as they lost half of their side at the score of 190 runs, 99 runs before the target was achieved. But then came a match-winning partnership between Yuvraj Singh (79) and MS Dhoni for the sixth wicket. The duo put on an unbeaten 102 to help India win by 5 wickets.
Dhoni happened to be the highlight of the game, with his 72 runs off just 46 balls, with 13 fours and a fantastic strike rate of 156.52. He also won the ‘Player of the Match award’ for his match-winning knock and three catches behind the wickets in the first innings.
134 against England - Cuttack ODI, 2017
In January 2017, the three-match ODI series against England was MS Dhoni’s first series after stepping down from his captaincy role just a month ago in December 2016. India were taking on the Three Lions in the second ODI in Cuttack, where the latter won the toss and decided to bowl first. The hosts were left in deep trouble as they lost their top three wickets at the score of just 25 runs in 4.4 overs.
What followed his top-order collapse was something iconic and made the Indian cricket fans relive the memories of vintage Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni. Yuvraj (150) and Dhoni stitched an unbelievable 256-run partnership for the fourth wicket, which not only stabilised India but took the team’s total to 381 runs for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted 50 overs.
Dhoni scored 134 runs off 122 balls, with 10 fours and six sixes, to play a vital role in the Men in Blue’s 15-run win. Eventually, India took an unassailable lead of 2-0 with this win in the Cuttack ODI.
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