Six instances when MS Dhoni got the better of Australian bowlers at the death

#4 44*, Adelaide (2012)

Dhoni took India home with a calculated run-chase

After enduring a 4-0 whitewash, a 1-1 T20I series draw, and a win and loss apiece in the Commonwealth Bank Tri-series, India were struggling through a tough tour of Australia in 2011/12. At Adelaide, after having conceded 270, India were on course to chase down the target, when they lost Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir in the span of three overs. Panic ensued.

Dhoni walked out to bat with 92 runs to get in the final 15 overs.

With Suresh Raina also relatively new at the crease and the lower order not in the best of form, Dhoni chose to play it safe by rotating the strike, taking lots of ones and twos. He formed a 61-run partnership with Raina who got out when India needed 31 off 23 balls, which eventually came down to 13 off the last 6 and then 12 off the final 4.

Dhoni, who was batting on 31, hadn’t scored a boundary until then. With the pressure mounting and experts already criticising the captain for a seemingly messed-up chase, Dhoni cleared the longest boundary in Australia, hammering a 113-metre six off Clint McKay, and following it up with a double and a three off the last delivery to seal the game for India.