5 brilliant MS Dhoni moments in limited overs cricket that don't fade away

MS Dhoni is the quintessential short format player – a great runner between the wickets, gifted with forearms of steel and wrists that could’ve been made of platinum. To top these all up, he has a head that always gives the impression of being connected to an oil-cooling system at all times.

No one smashes them longer and harder than Dhoni, but what makes it better is the timing of those hits. Dhoni’s hits almost always have a stamp of destiny associated with them. He scores tough runs during tough moments. He has done the incredible so consistently, it is tough to pick five memorable moments by MS Dhoni in T20Is that won’t fade away from our memories, just like the Axe Signature range of perfumes.

There are many others besides what have been listed here like one of the first helicopters unfurled against James Anderson way back in 2006, his blitzkrieg against Dale Steyn in the same match that Sachin scored a double century in and countless IPL matches for CSK.

Let's take a look:

#5. Six vs Australia, at the Adelaide Oval in the 2012 CB Series

Chasing 270, India needed 12 runs off the last 4 balls against Australia, when Dhoni finally got strike, having refused a second run that would have put Ravichandran Ashwin back on strike.

What Dhoni did after that is probably one of the most incredible shot a batsman can pull off – he smashed a near-yorker from Clint McKay so hard, that it cleared probably the largest boundary in Australia (and hence in the world) by a comfortable distance. That rattled McKay so badly that he bowled a beamer in the next ball. India romped home with 2 balls to spare and Dhoni ended with 44 off 58 balls. That six down the ground is a shot that is hard to forget for any fan.

#4. 5 sixers against Thisara Perera at the CLT20

In a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Dhoni showed the carnage he is capable of. Thisara Perera came to bowl the 18th over in a CLT20 match at Dhoni’s home ground, Ranchi. And boy, did he give them a treat! He smashed a 95-meter six over long on to start with. After taking a quick double courtesy a misfield, he pulled a short ball off his hips beyond the 77-meter deep fine leg boundary.

The following ball was fuller outside off and Dhoni sliced it beautifully enough to send it sailing over the deep point boundary. The next one was a massive hit over long on, over 100 meters. The last of the five sixes was probably the best though, Dhoni playing the ramp to a shorter delivery and the ball going the distance over the third man boundary. 34 runs including 2 wides – an over Perera will always remember.

#3. CSK v KXIP, 2010, Dharamsala

One of the rarest moments in Dhoni’s career, where he showed emotions over the top, was registered during this match. CSK needed a win to qualify and were chasing a mountain – 193 to win against KXIP. Irfan Pathan came over to bowl the last over and he had 16 runs to defend. That is a decent amount to defend... well unless you are bowling to MS Dhoni.

The CSK captain took just four balls to finish the match off, hitting two monster sixers, one of them going a whopping 108 meters after which he was so pumped up, he was literally muttering to himself. From barely making it to the playoffs CSK went on to win the title defeating Mumbai Indians in the final, a lot of credit goes to the captain who scored an unbeaten 54 off just 29 balls to save the day for his team in an away match during a crunch situation.

#2. Sri Lanka, Tri-Nation Series Final, 2013

Playing despite an injury, Dhoni once again achieved the miraculous. Sri Lanka set India a modest target of 202 on a sluggish pitch in the Tri-Series Final. India were 182 for 9 in the 47th over and looked all set to lose the game, except it was MS Dhoni on the other end. He managed just 2 runs in the 48th over, following which Ishant Sharma survived a whole over from Mathews in the 49th scoring just 2 runs. Now, India needed 15 from the last 6 balls – a tough ask.

The first ball from Eranga beat Dhoni’s bat, but his ice-cool look did not change. He, then, hit the next three balls for two sixes and a four. Game over. The first one was a massive helicopter off a ball outside off that was sent over the roof. The next was a boundary over point. The final blow was a slap over extra cover for a stupendous six. And Dhoni does it all the time, under pressure with alarming consistency.

#1. 2011 World Cup Final

This is a shot a billion people remember. And will always remember. After playing a calm, composed knock under pressure chasing a stiff target against Sri Lanka, Dhoni ended India's 28-year barren ICC ODI World Cup run at the Wankhede. In the 49th over, India needed just four runs, but Dhoni hammered one down the ground off Kulasekara to make sure India lift the trophy, the first time a host managed to do so.

He helped India chase down a total of 275 with 10 balls to spare and with 6 wickets in hand. Dhoni ended on 91* in just 79 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixers making sure Gautam Gambhir’s grind under pressure after the early loss of Sachin and Sehwag didn't end in a waste. That picture of Dhoni watching the ball soar over the boundary with Yuvraj celebrating at the other end of the pitch is a picture for the ages!