5 Dhoni masterstrokes during India's nail-biting win over Bangladesh

MS Dhoni takes his left glove off before the final ball, anticipating a run out chance

Gloves off for final ball

In all the works of genius that Dhoni accomplishes, it is easy to forget that his primary role is that of the wicket-keeper, which role too Dhoni shone in on Wednesday. For some, his greatest piece of work behind the stumps was the dismissal of Sabbir Rahman. As the batsman lost his balance while trying to flick a quicker ball by Raina down the leg side he lost his balance, and a lightining piece of work from Dhoni ensured that he lost his wicket too.

Sabbir’s foot had been off the ground for the tiniest fraction of a moment, and it was at that precise moment that Dhoni dislodged the bails.

However, it was what he did before the final ball of the Bangladesh innings that qualifies as a masterstroke of captaincy. With one run required to take the match into a super over, and two bowlers Shuvagata Hom and Mustafizur Rahman at the crease, Dhoni knew that there was a big chance that the batsmen would go for a run and that a run out would have to be effected. And so, he took his gloves off, in readiness for the killer blow.

And what a killer blow it was, denying Bangladesh by a few inches, scripting a memorable win, and keeping India’s chances alive at the World T20.

The photo finsh