MS Dhoni is one of the best cricketers in the world at the present moment. He has brought many laurels for team India as a captain winning 3 major ICC tournaments including, ICC World T20 2007, ICC World Cup 2011 and 2013 ICC Champions held in England.
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He still plays a key role in India’s ODI and T20I team. MS Dhoni played some great knocks in all formats of the game in his international career so far which has helped India win most of the matches. He made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in 2004, the wicketkeeper-batsman played a total of 318 matches so far for team India with 9967 runs with an average of 51.37.
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He made his T20I debut for India against South Africa on 1st December 2006. Under the captaincy of, MS Dhoni, India won the first ever World T20 held in South Africa beat Pakistan in the finals on 24th September 2007 at Johannesburg. He has played so far 89 T20Is and scored 1444 runs with an average of 37.02.
MS Dhoni made his test debut in 2005 against Sri Lanka and was the captain in 90 matches, winning 36 and losing 24. As a batsman in test cricket, Dhoni did not have a great record scoring just 6 centuries and 33 half-centuries. MS Dhoni played 90 test matches and scored 4876 runs. He retired from test cricket on 26th December 2014 against Australia.
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He has led India to many historic moments in all formats of the game as a captain or a batsman. Here we look at the top 8 innings of MS Dhoni in international cricket.
1. 148 vs Pak at Visakhapatnam, April 2005
MS Dhoni came into limelight with a superb 148 against Pakistan in the 2nd One-day international match played at Visakhapatnam on 5th April 2005. The wicketkeeper-batsman was promoted at number 3 and showed his class with attacking stroke play.
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MS Dhoni smashed the Pakistan bowlers and reached his half-century off 49 balls. After completing his half-century, he continued with his brutal hitting to score the 1st century in international cricket.
He scored 148 off 123 balls with 15 fours and 4 sixes. India posted a massive total of 356 for 9 in 50 overs. Pakistan was bowled out for 298 in 44. 1 overs, giving hosts a 58 runs win. MS Dhoni was named the man of the match for his brilliant knock.
2. 183 vs SL at Jaipur, October 2005
The dashing wicketkeeper-batsman from Ranchi played another special inning against Sri Lanka at Sawai Man Singh Stadium, Jaipur on 31st October 2005. Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu won the toss and decided to bat first.
Great batting by Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Maharoof helped Sri Lanka post 298 for 4 in 50 overs. Chasing 299 runs to win, India lost an early wicket of Sachin Tendulkar. MS Dhoni came at number 3 again and played with positive intent smashing the Sri Lankan bowlers. The wicketkeeper-batsman reached his half-century off 40 balls and continued to hit the visitors with great aggression.
MS Dhoni reached his century off 88 balls. This was one amazing inning who was dismissed for 183 off 145 balls with 15 fours and 10 sixes. India won the match by 6 wickets with 23 balls to spare.
3. 72* vs Pakistan at Lahore, February 2006
MS Dhoni showed his class with the bat against arch-rivals Pakistan at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore in the 3rd One day international on 13th February 2006. Indian captain Rahul Dravid won the toss and decided to field first.
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108 from Shoaib Malik, 34 from Kamran Akmal and a quick fire 64 from Abdul Razzaq helped Pakistan post 288 for 8 in 50 overs. Chasing the target of 289, India were 190 for 5.
MS Dhoni played a smashing inning and scored a quick-fire 72 not out off 46 balls with 15 fours. He smashed every Pakistani bowler. India won the match by 5 wickets with 14 balls to spare.
For his quick-fire knock, MS Dhoni was named as man of the match.
4. 91* vs Sri Lanka at Mumbai, April 2011
MS Dhoni played a captains knock in the finals of 2011 World Cup played at Wankedhe Stadium, Mumbai on 2nd April 2011. Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and decided to bat first.
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A brilliant 103* by Mahela Jayawardene and contributions from Kumar Sangakkara, TM Dilshan, quick fire 32 by Kulasekara and 22 by Thisara Perera helped Sri Lanka post a competitive 274 for 6 in 50 overs.
Chasing 275 to win, India lost 2 early wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag cheaply. Kohli and Gambhir steadied the innings with 83 runs stand for the 3rd wicket. After Kohli fell, MS Dhoni promoted himself ahead of Yuvraj Singh. MS Dhoni showed his class with the bat and played the best innings of his life remaining 91 not out off 79 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes. He hit the winning shot and won the World Cup after 28 years.
5. 224 vs Australia at Chennai, February 2013
MS Dhoni played his best test knock in international cricket career. This match took place between India and Australia at M Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai from 22nd to 26th February 2013. Australia had posted 380 in the first innings. India’s lost 4 wickets at the score of 196. MS Dhoni came to the crease and added 128 runs for the 5th wicket with Virat Kohli.
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MS Dhoni reached his half-century off 59 balls. With wickets falling at the other end, the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman and captain played with attacking approach completing century off 119 balls.
With the tail, MS Dhoni took the charge and reached his 200 off 231 balls. He was dismissed for 224 off 265 balls with 24 fours and 6 sixes.
India won the match by 8 wickets after dismissing Australia for 241 in the second innings. India was given a target off 50 in the 2nd innings on the 5th day.
6. 113* vs Pakistan at Chennai, December 2012
He played one of the best innings under pressure for India against Pakistan in the 1st One day international played at M Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on 30th December 2012. MS Dhoni came to the crease when India was struggling at 29 for 5.
He steadied the innings and put up 73 runs for the 6th wicket with Suresh Raina. MS Dhoni took singles, hit bad balls away for boundaries. MS Dhoni reached his half-century off 86 balls and got the support of R Ashwin. Both MS Dhoni and R Ashwin added unbeaten 125 runs for the 7th wicket.
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The captain reached his century off 118 balls. MS Dhoni remained not out on 113 off 125 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes. It helped Team India post 227 for 6 in 50 overs. Chasing 228, Pakistan won the match by 6 wickets with 11 balls to spare.
For his great knock, MS Dhoni was named as the man of the match.
7. 56 vs England at Bangalore, February 2017
Before this match against England at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore played on February 1st 2017, Mahendra Singh Dhoni had only 1 half century to his name. In the match, England captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and decided to field first.
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Suresh Raina scored a quick fire 63 off 45 balls. MS Dhoni came to the crease at number 4 and looked in superb form with some brilliant hitting. He took on the fast bowlers smashing them to all parts of the ground and reached his half-century off 32 balls.
Dhoni was dismissed for well made 56 off 36 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes. India posted a massive total of 202 for 6 in 20 overs.
England could not chase down the big target and be bowled out for 127 in 16.3 overs. India won the match by 75 runs and the series 2-1.
8. 45* vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series finals at Port of Spain, Trinidad, July 2013
The Indian team captain in that match played another special inning in the finals of Tri-nation against Sri Lanka at Port of Spain, Trinidad on 11th July 2013. The third team during that tournament was West Indies.
In that match, Indian captain MS Dhoni and decided to field first. A great bowling effort by the Indian bowlers helped them to bowl out Sri Lanka for just 201 in 48.5 overs. Chasing 202 to win, MS Dhoni came at the crease when team India at 141 for 4.
On the other hand, India kept losing wickets but Dhoni stayed calm as the tail-enders were with him. With 15 runs required off the final from Eranga, MS Dhoni smashed 2 sixes and 1 four to give India a famous 1 wicket win.
He showed his composure as wickets fell at the other end. India won the Tri-series tournament. For his match-winning knock, MS Dhoni was named as man of the match.