All-time combined India-New Zealand ODI XI

#6 Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of cricket’s most charismatic characters ever

If there is one cricketer who could rival Sachin Tendulkar in terms of popularity in India, it would be Mahendra Singh Dhoni or more affectionately ‘the dynamite of Jharkhand’. Dhoni can rend the bowling attacks asunder, can slowly build a partnership if the team is in dire straits, can perform lightning quick stumpings and can change the tempo of an innings in the span of just a few overs.

In a nutshell, he is a man for all seasons. Not surprisingly, he is widely regarded as one of the best finishers in the ODIs. Considering his much needed finishing prowess and the fact that Dhoni batted at no.6 for the lion’s share of his career, the uber cool Indian will remain at no. 6 slot in the ‘combined XI.’

Dhoni enjoyed great success in ODIs as captain leading India to victory in the 2011 World Cup but let us not thrust the captaincy on him as Dhoni was far more aggressive in his batting approach when he was not the captain compared to the time when he carried the burden of captaincy.

Dhoni can play as a specialist batsman leaving the glove work to Brendon McCullum, as he is far more consistent than the latter.