5 Greatest ODI Chases by India 

India vs Sri Lanka – Final at Port of Spain, West Indies Tri-Nation Series 2013

Dhoni finishes it off in style

Another tri-series, another close finish. The opponent was again Sri Lanka. It was not a huge chase, India only needed to get 202 to win and that should have been a walk in the park with the calibre of batsmen the Indian team had.

They got off to a strongish start; though they lost Dhawan and Kohli cheaply, there was some rebuilding being done and Dhoni walked in to bat at 4/139 after Rohit’s wicket fell, joining Suresh Raina at the crease. Both men were established ODI batsmen, but Dhoni had come into the side just for the final after being injured previously so there were doubts over his form.

Raina fell soon after and a slide of wickets followed as the Indian lower order collapsed and left them at 167/8 with Dhoni their only hope. India needed 35 off 48. In trademark Dhoni fashion, he took the match deep into the last few overs and with 2 overs left there were 17 runs to get.

Ishant Sharma was on strike for every delivery of the penultimate over, and managed 2 runs but more importantly, didn’t get out. Last over – 15 to get. Dhoni on strike.

The first delivery was a dot ball as Dhoni failed to make contact with a wild swing outside off. The next 3 deliveries? They were all it took.

They went for 6, 4 and 6 and Dhoni snatched an improbable victory for India from the jaws of defeat.