MS Dhoni’s 5 best Test innings

MS Dhoni in Chennai Test against Australia (Source: AFP)

One of India’s most successful captains in the Tests, MS Dhoni also left an impactful mark with his batting excellence on a couple of occasions in his Test career. In his nine-year Test career, MS Dhoni played 90 matches, scoring 4876 runs in 144 innings at an average of 38.09, with six centuries and 33 half-centuries. 

Besides that, he also played some impactful Test knocks which either won the game for India or escaped the defeat by the narrow margins. That said, here’s a look at MS Dhoni’s five best innings in Tests during his nine-year-long journey in the longest format of the game. 

MS Dhoni’s five best innings in Tests 

224 against Australia - Chennai Test, 2013 

India and Australia faced off in the first Test of the four-match series in 2013. Australia's skipper won the toss and decided to bat first in Chennai. 

The Aussies posted a total of 380 runs in the first innings. In response to Australia’s 380-run total, India had a shaky start, losing both of their openers at the score of just 12 runs in 5.2 overs. However, Cheteshwar Pujara (44) and Sachin Tendulkar (81) stabilised the innings with a crucial 93-run partnership for the third wicket.

Later in the innings, Virat Kohli also scored a century before MS Dhoni took the centre stage with his iconic double century. Captain Cool smashed 224 runs off 265 balls, with 24 fours and six sixes. It also happened to be the highest score of Dhoni’s Test career. On the back of these knocks, India posted 572 runs in the first innings, taking a lead of 192 runs.

Furthermore, Australia were bundled out at 241 runs, setting a target of just 50 runs for India in the fourth innings of the game. Eventually, India comfortably chased down the target in 11.3 overs, scoring 50 runs for the loss of two wickets and won the game by eight wickets. 

148 against Pakistan - Faisalabad Test, 2006 

In January-February 2006, India, under Rahul Dravid’s captaincy, toured Pakistan for a three-match Test series and a five-match ODI series. After playing a draw in the first Test in Lahore, the arch-rivals took on each other in the second Test in Faisalabad. 

The then-Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq won the toss and decided to bat first. The hosts posted a big total of 588 runs in the first innings courtesy of Inzamam-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi’s centuries. 

In response to Pakistan's 588, MS Dhoni’s knock, following Rahul Dravid’s century (103), played a vital role in helping India take a narrow lead of 15 runs. Dhoni smashed 148 runs off just 153 balls, with 19 fours and four sixes. His knock took India’s score to 603 runs. 

Pakistan declared their second innings after scoring 490 runs for the loss of eight wickets and set a 476-run target for India. However, the game ended in a draw. 

However, Dhoni’s knock is still remembered for his grit and determination against Pakistan’s pace attack comprising two lethal pacers, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, alongside Abdul Razzaq. 

71 against England - Manchester Test, 2014 

Near the end of his Test career, MS Dhoni led India for one last time in a Test series in England. The team was taking on the hosts in the fourth Test in Manchester. 

The visiting skipper Dhoni won the toss and decided to bat first, but his batters couldn’t live up to the expectations, and India ended up in deep trouble as they lost four wickets for just eight runs in just 5.1 overs of the first innings. 

Following this horrific collapse, skipper MS Dhoni, alongside Ajinkya Rahane (24) and Ravichandran Ashwin (40), carried the innings for India to escape an embarrassment of a low-score all-out. 

Dhoni went on to score a crucial 71 runs off 133 balls, with 15 fours to take his team’s total to 152 runs in 46.4 overs. 

Nevertheless, India lost the grip of the game as soon as it progressed further and ended up losing it by an innings and 54 runs.

76* against England - Lord’s Test, 2007 

Almost 18 and a half years ago, in 2007, the Rahul Dravid-led India were on the tour of England, where they won a Test series after a long wait of 1986. However, MS Dhoni’s contribution in this Test series win for India can not be forgotten, given his contributions in the rain-affected first Test at the Lord’s. 

Notably, India were chasing the big target of 380 runs in the fourth innings, but they were eyeing a defeat before Dhoni and rain pulled them away from an embarrassing defeat. India suffered a drastic collapse, losing 7 wickets before reaching 250 while chasing 380.

Meanwhile, it was MS Dhoni who held one end firmly and saved his prized wicket before the rain interrupted the game in India’s favour. Dhoni, alongside the number 11 batter S Sreesanth (2), went unbeaten at the individual score of 76 runs off 159 balls, with 10 fours. 

90 against South Africa - Centurion Test, 2010 

India and South Africa were locking horns in the first Test of the three-match series. The then-Proteas skipper Graeme Smith won the toss and pushed the visitors into batting first at the tough Centurion turf. The hosts’ lethal pace duo of Dale Steyn (3/34) and Morne Morkel (5/20) bundled out India at just 136 runs in the first innings. 

South Africa responded with a mammoth total of 620 runs for the loss of four wickets before declaring their first innings with a lead of 484 runs. India had a brilliant opening start of 137 runs by Gautam Gambhir (80) and Virender Sehwag (63). Rahul Dravid’s 43-run knock followed their start, but India found themselves in trouble after losing a few wickets in a bunch.  

Furthermore, the skipper, MS Dhoni, took charge alongside Sachin Tendulkar (211). The Sachin-Dhoni duo stitched a vital partnership of 172 runs for the seventh wicket to push India away from the defeat. Dhoni scored 90 runs off 106 balls, with 14 fours. However, their efforts fell short as India were bundled out for 459, losing the game by an innings and 25 runs.