5 instances when MS Dhoni single-handedly carried the Indian batting

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is arguably one of the most popular cricketers of India apart from Sachin Tendulkar. The wicket-keeper batsman is also the most scrutinised cricketer of the cricket crazy nation.

The current Indian limited overs captain came from the mining state of Jharkhand in the eastern part of India. The 34-year-old is considered as the most successful Indian captain and under Dhoni’s leadership India have won the top prizes in all the formats of the game.

The wicketkeeper-batsman is also the most successful wicket-keeper batsman of the country. He is hailed as the most prolific finishers of all-time in limited-overs cricket and his aggressive brand of batting can be described modestly as unorthodox but extremely effective.

Here we take a look at five instances when the star carried the team thanks to his batting.

#5. 124 vs Australia at Nagpur in 2009

MS Dhoni (right) with Suresh Raina (left) after reaching his hundred

On 28 October 2009, India played Australia in the 2nd match of a five-match bilateral ODI series in Nagpur. Australia won the toss and elected to field first in a traditionally sporting track and things did go according to their plan in the initial overs.

Both openers in the form of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag returned to the pavilion rather quickly. The Indian captain walked to the crease when India were struggling at 97/3. Dhoni first formed a good partnership with Gautam Gambhir and then with Suresh Raina to help India post a big score of 354 on the board.

The unconventional batsman started off slow but after settling he launch himself into fifth gear. By the time he was out caught behind he accumulated 124 runs off just 107 balls and more importantly set up a solid platform for India to post a mammoth target.

The Ranchi-born batsman played the innings at the strike-rate of 115.88 and smashed 9 boundaries alongside three massive sixes. India eventually won the match by 99 runs and the Indian captain was rightfully awarded the player of the match.

#4. 113* vs Pakistan at Visakhapatnam in 2005

MS Dhoni playing a shot against Pakistan

The 2nd match of the 2005 Pakistan-India ODI series was played at Visakhapatnam on 5 April. Indian captain Sourav Ganguly won the toss and elected to bat first against arch-rivals Pakistan. The match went down in the history books as the launching platform of a global icon named MS Dhoni.

Indian suffered a blow in the third over of the innings as Sachin Tendulkar got out cheaply. As the nation’s pride was taking his long walk back towards the dressing room, a young Jharkhand lad walked into the field with a bat. The right-handed batsman straight away started counter-attacking the Pakistani pace attack and took good care of their spinners.

Dhoni remained unbeaten at the end of their scheduled 50 overs as India posted a huge total of 356 on the scoreboard. His innings of 148 off just 123 came at a strike-rate of 120.32 along with 15 fours and four mammoth sixes. In the end, India won the match by 58 runs and the wicketkeeper-batsman was awarded the player of the match trophy.

#3. 139* vs Australia at Mohali in 2013

MS Dhoni hitting a straight six of Mitchell Johnson’s bowling

The 3rd match of the Australia vs India ODI 2013 series was contested at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali on 19 October 2013. Australia chose to field first after winning the toss and picked up some crucial early wickets which put India in all sorts of trouble.

The Indian captain walked in at No.6 position when India were at 76/4 in just 13 overs. Dhoni played a valiant innings after forming a partnership with Virat Kohli and then carried the good work single-handedly. He scored an unbeaten 139 runs in 121 balls to help his team post a challenging total of 303 runs.

However, India lost the match by four wickets, Dhoni’s innings was the only standout performance from team India in that match. He once again proved that day just how good a batsman he is with his effort. Dhoni scored with a strike-rate of 114.87 that day and smashed 12 fours and 5 massive boundaries

#2. 101* vs Bangladesh at Mirpur in 2010

MS Dhoni playing a shot against Bangladesh at Mirpur

The 3rd match of the 2010 Tri-National Tournament was played between neighbours India and Bangladesh at Mirpur on 7 January 2010. Bangladesh won the toss and straight away chose to field first in the day-night encounter. India started off in a disastrous manner as the lost Sehwag, Gambhir and Yuvraj in 8.1 overs while chasing 297.

When the captain came into bat, the team was reeling at 51/3 and desperately needed a partnership. The 34-year-old first steadied the ship along with Virat Kohli. The added pressure of chasing did not shake the nerves of the finisher Dhoni as he kept on going even after Kohli got out.

Along with Suresh Raina, the Indian captain took his side over the finishing line with 15 balls to spare. His unbeaten innings of 101 came under immense pressure and he produced a captain’s knock. Dhoni assessed the situation well as he didn’t play big shots in his innings and concentrated on singles and doubles.

#1. 183* vs Sri Lanka at Jaipur in 2005

MS Dhoni celebrates after reaching his hundred against Sri Lanka

The 3rd ODI of the India-Sri Lanka seven-match bilateral series of 2005 was played on 31 October at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first, they posted 298 in their scheduled 50-overs.

While chasing, India endured an early setback as Sachin Tendulkar was out in the first over, this brought MS Dhoni to the crease. Dhoni’s introduction into the match put the curtains on Lankan hopes that day as he punished every single bowler and took India over the victory line with 23 to spare.

The batsman from Jharkhand scored an unbeaten 183 runs off just 145 balls with a strike-rate of 126.20. He also hammered 15 superb boundaries along with 10 huge sixes in that unforgettable innings. This innings still remains as the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper in an ODI match.