Celebrating Captain Cool: 5 greatest MS Dhoni innings that went in vain

Former Indian captain MS Dhoni has overseen his fair share of tight finishes and he more often than not comes out on top when put under the pump. But sometimes, things don't go according to plan even for Captain Cool.

Despite being one of the greatest second-innings batsmen the game has ever seen, MS Dhoni has come up short on some occasions in important games, both on the international stage and in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Even while batting first, the wicket-keeper has seen centuries go in vain due to a lack of support from the other batsmen.

In this article, we take a look at the 5 greatest innings of MS Dhoni, who turns 39 tomorrow, in a losing cause.

---

#5 MS Dhoni's 52 off 28 vs South Africa (2nd T20I, 2018)

MS Dhoni's second T20I fifty went in vain as South Africa chased a daunting target of 189

In the 2nd T20I of India's tour of South Africa in the early months of 2018, MS Dhoni scored a marauding fifty in a losing cause. Batting first at Centurion, India put up an imposing total of 188 in their 20 overs on the back of Manish Pandey's 79 off 48 and MS Dhoni's 52 off 28.

The stumper's innings was studded with 4 fours and 3 sixes, with Dane Paterson and Chris Morris, in particular, bearing the brunt of MS Dhoni's willow. However, despite the Men In Blue's above-par total, nightmare spells from Yuzvendra Chahal and Jaydev Unadkat saw the hosts romp to a 6-wicket victory in the 19th over.

The innings was only MS Dhoni's second fifty in T20Is and he is yet to add to this total - a surprising stat considering that the destructive batsman has played 98 games in the format.

---

#4 MS Dhoni's 139* off 121 vs Australia (3rd ODI, 2013)

MS Dhoni recorded a 121-ball 139 with no support from the other end

In the 3rd ODI of Australia's tour of India in 2013 at Mohali, MS Dhoni walked in at No. 6 with his team in a precarious position at 76-4. The then-Indian captain stitched together important partnerships with Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin to take his side to a respectable 303 in their allotted 50 overs.

MS Dhoni himself finished on an unbeaten 139 off just 121 balls, hitting 12 boundaries and 5 big sixes over the course of his 37-over vigil at the crease. However, despite the gloveman's incredible effort, James Faulkner's stunning late act snatched the victory for the tourists.

Coming in as low as No. 8, the left-arm quick pulverised the Indian death bowlers to finish on 64 off just 29 balls, with 2 fours and 6 maximums. The Kangaroos were able to overhaul the run-a-ball target in the last over to take a 2-1 lead in the 7-match series.

However, riding on Rohit Sharma's 491 runs in 5 innings, India won the series 3-2.

---

#3 MS Dhoni's 79* off 44 vs Kings XI Punjab (IPL 2018)

MS Dhoni's incredible knock against KXIP went in vain

In the 2018 edition of the IPL, expectations were never higher as MS Dhoni was set to captain the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on their return after a two-year hiatus. Both the team and the skipper didn't disappoint as the Men In Yellow cruised to their 3rd IPL title.

In the process, MS Dhoni played many great innings, with his unbeaten 79 off just 44 balls against KXIP being one of them. However, CSK came up 4 runs short in their chase of 198, a total reached due to Chris Gayle's 63 off 33 balls.

With 67 needed off the last 4 overs, CSK were all but written off. But as they have done so many times in the past, they nearly pulled off a heist, with MS Dhoni bringing the equation down to 17 off the last over, bowled by Mohit Sharma.

Although a six and a four were managed, a few pinpoint yorkers meant that MS Dhoni came off second-best, something that has happened very rarely at the fag end of matches.

---

#2 MS Dhoni's 113* off 125 vs Pakistan (ODI, 2012)

MS Dhoni raises his bat after scoring a hundred against arch-rivals Pakistan

In MS Dhoni's adopted home of Chepauk, the ODI leg of Pakistan's tour of India got underway in December 2012. This series is remembered for being the last bilateral series played between the neighbouring countries, but also for MS Dhoni's brilliant ton in the first ODI.

Coming in with India in tatters at 29-5, the skipper steered his team to a competitive total of 227, only to see Pakistan chasing it down with 9 balls to spare, riding on Nasir Jamshed's century.

MS Dhoni's 113-run knock, which featured 7 fours and 3 sixes, thus went in vain, although he was awarded the Man of the Match. India also went on to lose the 3-match series 2-1, with a win in the 3rd ODI but a mere consolation.

---

#1 MS Dhoni's 84* off 48 vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (IPL 2019)

CSK skipper MS Dhoni scored a career-best 84* off 48 balls in IPL 2019

Defending champions CSK found themselves facing eternal rivals RCB at Bengaluru in the 39th match of the 2019 IPL. After Parthiv Patel's fifty took the home side to a below-par 161, Dale Steyn's fiery spell with the new ball saw him scalp the important wickets of Shane Watson and Suresh Raina.

However, despite coming in at 28-4, captain MS Dhoni nearly pulled off a heist of the highest order with virtually no support from the other end. With 26 runs required off the last over to be bowled by Umesh Yadav, Virat Kohli's side all but had the game in hand.

4, 6, 6, 2, 6 - this was what ensued off the first five balls of the last over, and the equation came down to 2 runs off the last delivery. However, Yadav finally managed to find (and hold) his nerve to bowl a widish ball that MS Dhoni missed. Parthiv Patel hit the stumps to find Shardul Thakur inches short, but despite the loss, the world was witness to MS Dhoni's career-best innings of 84* off 48 balls at the ripe age of 37.

---