5 bowlers who got the better of MS Dhoni in the last over
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has earned for himself a pretty satisfying title for being arguably the greatest finisher of the game that India has ever seen. But his failure to take India over the line in the 1st T20I of the ongoing series against Zimbabwe at Harare, one which necessitated a meagre 8 runs to be scored off the last over with 5 wickets to spare, has spurred severe criticism and fury over his lacklustre finishing.
However, this wasn’t the first time M S Dhoni’s efforts at the death culminated in a woeful loss for his side. The charismatic captain’s celebrated career is marred by several instances where the bowler got the better of him in his favourite last over whose deliveries he’s otherwise known to smash out of the park with ease.
Let us now take a look at 5 such instances:
#1 Chris Woakes – India vs England, Birmingham, Sep 7, 2014:
The only T20I played between India and England in September 2014 was poised to be an easy victory for the former. At one stage, India were cruising to the target of 181 with an asking rate of 9.28 and eight wickets in hand. Kohli’s dismissal brought MS Dhoni out onto the pitch to complete the task but his slow start made it seem like he was steadying himself for another swashbuckling finish.
Gradually, the runs to balls remaining ratio rose higher and settled at 17 to get from the last six with Dhoni and Rayudu at the crease. A six, a four and a couple later, India fell short by 3 runs at which pacer Chris Woakes went off to join his teammates to celebrate the narrow English victory.