MS Dhoni's top 5 international knocks at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is currently hosting the first Test of the World Test Championship series between India and Bangladesh. The first two days of the game are done and dusted, and it looks like India will register an easy win at Chepauk.
Fans watching the game live on TV must have noticed that there are a lot of spectators in Chennai Super Kings (CSK) jersey watching the game live at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The venue has been the home of CSK since 2008, and the franchise's former captain MS Dhoni receives the loudest cheers at this venue.
Dhoni has played some excellent IPL knocks at this venue. He has a fantastic international cricket record at the MA Chidambaram Stadium as well, and here's a list of his top five international knocks on this ground.
#5 MS Dhoni's first 50+ score in Tests at MA Chidambaram Stadium - 53 (82) vs England, 2008
India hosted England for a Test series in 2008, with MS Dhoni captaining the side. Chennai hosted the first Test, and England posted 316 on the board. In response, India were down to 102/5 when Dhoni walked out to bat at number seven.
Dhoni fought like a lone warrior, scoring a half-century for the home side. His 82-ball 53 ensured India finished with 241 on the board. He was the top-scorer for India, and his knock included five fours. Later, England set a massive 387-run target for India, which the home team chased down with six wickets in hand.
#4 MS Dhoni joins hands with Hardik Pandya to destroy the Aussies - 79 vs Australia, 2017
In 2017, Australia toured India for an ODI series, with Chennai hosting the opening game. Nathan Coulter-Nile's triple strike left India reeling at 11/3 in the initial overs. Rohit Sharma and Kedar Jadhav tried to rebuild the innings, but both were back in the hut before the score crossed 90.
Dhoni joined hands with Hardik Pandya to torment the Australian batters then. The two batters added 118 runs for the sixth wicket, with Pandya scoring 83 off 66. After Pandya lost his wicket, Dhoni switched gears and continued to trouble the Australians along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Dhoni finished with 79 off 88, hitting four fours and two sixes. India won that game by 26 runs via D/L method.
#3 Dhoni steals the show in Afro-Asia Cup - 139* (97) vs Africa XI, 2007
There have been talks of Afro-Asia Cup's revival in the near future. In the 2007 edition of the mega event, Dhoni entertained the fans at the MA Chidambaram Stadium with an excellent innings of 139 runs from 97 balls.
Dhoni came out to bat at number seven when the Asia XI team was down to 72/5. He united forces with Mahela Jayawardene to add 218 runs for the sixth wicket. Both Jayawardene and Dhoni scored a ton, but the latter remained unbeaten till the end, finishing with 139. Dhoni smashed 15 fours and five sixes as Asia XI reached 331/8 and beat Africa XI by 13 runs.
#2 MS Dhoni saves India from an embarrassing collapse at MA Chidambaram Stadium - 113* (125) vs Pakistan, 2012
Pakistan last toured India for a bilateral ODI series in 2012/13. In the first match of the series, Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan destroyed the Indian top-order, scalping five wickets before India touched 30.
Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni then rebuilt the Indian innings. They batted slow initially, and Raina lost his wicket on 43 off 88 before he could switch gears. Dhoni remained in the middle till the end, scoring 113 off 125 balls.
He hit seven fours and three sixes, helping India recover from 29/5 and finish with 227/6 in 50 overs. Unfortunately for Dhoni and Team India, Pakistan won that game by six wickets.
#1 MS Dhoni's best Test knock - 224 (265) vs Australia, 2013
After drubbing India 4-0 Down Under, Australia toured India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in early 2013. MA Chidambaram Stadium hosted the opening Test, and Michael Clarke's ton inspired the visitors to 380 in the first innings.
In response, India posted a mammoth 572 on the board, thanks to a century from Virat Kohli and an incredible double hundred from MS Dhoni. The wicketkeeper-batter smacked 24 fours and six sixes to score 224 runs at MA Chidambaram Stadium. He became the first Indian wicketkeeper-batter to score a double century in Tests.