An unorthodox batsman with an ability to hit huge sixes, M.S Dhoni is one of the best finishers of the game.
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The only captain to have led his team to all three ICC trophies, M.S. Dhoni guided the Men in Blue to the World Cup, the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy, besides also taking India to the top of the ICC Test rankings while he was skipper. In August 2020, the legendary wicket-keeper announced his retirement in a heartfelt social media post that encapsulated his cricketing journey over the years.
Three memorable ? – which @msdhoni-led tournament win is your favourite?
#MSDhoni #Dhoni pic.twitter.com/NsAw6Awkmy— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 7, 2021
A player who always placed his country above individual honours, Dhoni’s humour and ethos came to the fore during his interactions with the media. As Captain Cool turns 40 and rings in his first birthday after retirement, we take a look at his Top 5 memorable innings.
It was the final of the 2011 World Cup, India were 114 for 3. The required rate was creeping towards six in a chase of 275. Enter M.S Dhoni.
He managed 150 runs in seven innings before the final, but he then knocked on the window of the dressing room and told coach Gary Kirsten: “I want to go in next”. The idea behind the promotion was that he was better equipped than Yuvraj Singh to handle Muttiah Muralitharan. Yuvraj had troubles against quality spin even at his best. Meanwhile, Dhoni had the benefit of having faced Muralitharan’s variations, including the doosra, at the Chennai Super Kings nets in the IPL.
He was striking at run-a-ball, soon after getting his first boundary he brought the roof down at the Wankhede when he launched Thisara Perera over backward point. The asking rate was now at Dhoni’s mercy. He sealed it in the most Dhoni-esque fashion, launching Nuwan Kulasekara into the stands beyond long-on, helping India lift the World Cup after 28 years.
“Dhoni finishes off in style!”
Iconic.#HappyBirthdayDhoni pic.twitter.com/fA9KL8Y8Jg
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 7, 2021
Let’s go back to 2005, when the legend of Dhoni started to take shape. In only his fifth ODI innings, Dhoni, with shoulder-length hair, was promoted up to No. 3 by captain Sourav Ganguly after Sachin Tendulkar was run out for 2.
After walking out with a swagger and punching gloves with Virender Sehwag, Dhoni punched Pakistan’s seamers over point like Sehwag used to. Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami and Naved-ul-Hasan were hit all over the park. Shahid Afridi wasn’t spared either as Dhoni surged down the track and launched him over extra-cover.
Dhoni moved to his first ODI hundred off 88 balls. Then showed off his full range, scoops, sweeps and down-the-track strokes to leave Pakistan wondering what had hit them.
Six months later, another ferocious assault from No. 3, this time in a chase of 299. Tendulkar gone early again. Dhoni strides out, rolling his shoulder and windmilling his arms.
He showed he could be more than a pinch-hitter and finished the chase with a fine mixture of power and calculation. Drawing comparisons with Tendulkar’s Desert Storm. His unbeaten 183 off 145 still remains the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper-batsman in ODI cricket.
The carnage began when he smoked Chaminda Vaas over extra-cover for a couple of sixes. His first fifty came off 40 balls, the second off 45, and the third off just 38. 120 of his 183 runs came via boundaries, including what would become a signature: finishing the job with a six.
Having been set a target of 270 runs by Australia in the 4th match of the Commonwealth Bank Series, India had to start and finish off well too. Gautam Gambhir anchored India’s innings till 178-4 but it was then down to Dhoni to take India home. A cool, calm and relaxed Dhoni finished things in style with 2 balls to spare and made the finish look easy while it wasn’t so.
As MS Dhoni enjoys his birthday, you can enjoy some of his biggest hits on Aussie soil.
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) July 7, 2021
Clint McKay missed his length, and Dhoni sent it towards the Adelaide hill for a 112-metre six. The almighty bat-swing was memorable enough to swoop into this list. He then finshed off the chase with two balls to spare. Dhoni made 44 off 58 balls.
India and Sri Lanka were in the final of the Tri-series which also featured the home team, West Indies. The final was being played at Port of Spain and India were asked to chase 202 runs. India needed 15 runs from the last 6 balls. Dhoni was at the crease with Ishant Sharma as India were 9 wickets down.
He had a big swing at the first ball and missed. The second was full and wide, and it was smashed into the roof over the bowler’s head. From thereon there was only one result possible, and Dhoni finished it off with a six. His exceptional hitting took India home with two balls to spare and India won Tri-Nation series because of his match-winning knock of 45 off 52 balls.
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