Top 5 Indian T20I batsmen of the decade

#4 MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni

Matches - 78, Innings - 66, Runs - 1,261, Average - 45.03, Strike Rate - 133.29

The retirement debate surrounding him may be the current hot topic in cricket, but there is little doubt that MS Dhoni is among the original T20 superstars of the game. The day he led his troops to victory in the 2007 World T20, Indian cricket changed forever. And till date, Dhoni remains one of T20 cricket’s most sellable faces.

Batting lower down the order, Dhoni obviously did not get too many chances to play the big knocks. Still, he constantly played cameos that made the difference between victory and defeat.

Dhoni's highest T20I score of 56 from 36 balls came against England at Bengaluru in February 2017, a game better remembered for Yuzvendra Chahal’s 6 for 25, which spun India to a 75-run triumph. Dhoni’s second and only other T20I half-century was the unbeaten 52 from 28 balls he smashed against South Africa at Centurion in February 2018, a knock which was overshadowed by Heinrich Klaasen’s 30-ball 69.

Dhoni’s strike rate of 133.29 is pretty good, and would have been even better but for his struggles of late. More than his batting, Dhoni will be remembered as the shrewd leader who had many tricks up his sleeve to surprise opponents in the format.