Top 5 MS Dhoni knocks against Pakistan in ODIs

#2 148 (123) at Visakhapatnam, 2005

Dhoni announced himself on the world stage by unfurling an array of shots

April 5, 2005 is a significant day in the history of Indian cricket. For a team whose wicket-keepers had often come under immense scrutiny for their lack of batting skills, Dhoni's maiden ODI century was a harbinger of happier times.

Promoted to number three by skipper Sourav Ganguly, Dhoni vindicated the bold move by putting Pakistan to the sword on a belter at Visakhapatnam. In the aftermath of Virender Sehwag's astonishing assault, the long-haired wicket-keeper batsman stormed into the limelight by taking the visiting bowlers to the cleaners.

The ease with which he lifted even fractionally overpitched deliveries over the cover boundary indicated the arrival of a promising stroke-maker. Dhoni's 148, from just 123 balls, was laced with 15 boundaries and four towering sixes. The emphatic knock propelled India to a formidable total and subsequently resulted in a 58-run victory.