Top 5 underrated MS Dhoni knocks in ODIs you may not remember
Former Team India captain MS Dhoni is celebrating his 43rd birthday on Sunday, July 7. The Jharkhand-born cricketer is one of the biggest superstars of world cricket. Even though he retired from international cricket in 2020, his fame hasn't diminished as has been visible by the veneration bestowed upon him during his appearances in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
In a brilliant career, Dhoni played 90 Tests, 350 ODIs, and 98 T20Is, scoring 4876, 10,773, and 1617 runs, respectively. His contribution behind the stumps does not get the credit that it deserves. The gloveman ended his international career with 634 catches and 195 stumpings.
The Indian batting legend has played several memorable knocks in one-day cricket, the format in which he tasted the most success at the international level. While Dhoni hit 10 hundreds and 73 fifties in his one-day career, here are five of his unheralded gems in the format.
#5 (96 off 106) vs England in Jamshedpur, April 2006
Dhoni opened the batting in this match with Virender Sehwag, who was leading the side, with Rahul Dravid being rested. Despite batting in an unfamiliar position, the keeper-batter accustomed himself very well to the situation. The right-handed batter struck 96 off 106 balls, hitting 10 fours and three sixes in his knock.
Dhoni was looking for a hundred, but missed out on the well-deserved landmark. He fell four short of three figures, foxed by a slower one from Sajid Mahmood. All he managed was to scoop the ball towards midwicket, where the fielder completed a simple catch.
The effort was more of a one-man show, although Ramesh Powar also contributed 54 off 83. India ended up posting 223 on the board. England chased down the target in 42.4 overs, with five wickets in hand.
#4 (88* off 95) vs Sri Lanka in Brisbane, February 2008
Dhoni scored an impressive 88* off 95 balls against Sri Lanka in the second match of the Commonwealth Bank Series in February 2008. India won the toss and batted first in this contest and ended up posting 267-4 on the board in 50 overs.
Team India got off to a decent start, with openers Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar adding 68. However, they lost their way and crumbled to 83-4. Dhoni, however, led from the front and lifted India in the company of Gautam Gambhir (102* off 101).
The stumper and Gambhir added an unbroken 184 for the fifth wicket. Dhoni's fine knock featured five fours and a six. Fans, however, might not recall this knock as Sri Lanka did not bat due to rain, and the game ended in a no result.
#3 (79 off 88) vs Australia in Chennai, September 2017
No longer the captain of the team, Dhoni played a crucial knock as a senior pro at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai in the first ODI of the five-match series against Australia in September 2017. The right-handed batter struck a fighting half-century to help India recover from a poor start.
Batting first, India had lost half their side for 87 inside 22 overs. Dhoni then joined hands with Hardik Pandya (83 off 66) and the duo added 118 runs for the sixth wicket. Dhoni hit four fours and two sixes in his defiant knock before he holed out to long-off, trying to take on James Faulkner.
India put up 281-7 on the board in their 50 overs. In response, Australia crumbled to 137-9 after 21 overs as Yuzvendra Chahal picked up 3-30. The Men in Blue went on to win the clash by 26 runs [DLS method].
#2 (84* off 89) vs New Zealand in Napier, March 2009
One of the standout aspects of Dhoni's batsmanship in one-dayers was his versatility. He could bat in varied conditions and different modes, adapting his game to the situation. In this particular ODI, played against the Kiwis in Napier in March 2009, he came into bat at No. 3 as the game was reduced to 38 overs.
India lost Tendulkar for 20, but Dhoni (84* off 89) and Sehwag (77 off 56) featured in a 52-run stand for the second wicket. The keeper-batter anchored the innings, hitting six fours in his unbeaten knock, while also ensuring that he didn't eat up too many deliveries.
The right-hander added 110 for the fifth wicket with Suresh Raina (66 off 39). Team India posted an impressive total of 273-4 on the board in their 38 overs. New Zealand were set a revised DLS target of 216 in 28 overs but ended up scoring 162-9 as the Men in Blue registered a famous win.
#1 (139* off 97) for Asia XI vs Africa XI in Chennai, June 2007
New-generation cricket fans might not be aware that there was a tournament called the Afro-Asia Cup played in 2007 between teams named Asia XI and Africa XI. Three matches were played in the series, with Asia XI hammering Africa XI 3-0.
In the third and final match of the series played in Chennai, Dhoni clobbered a brutal 139* off 97 balls. Led by Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene, Asia XI batted first after winning the toss. They posted 331-8 on the board in their 50 overs as Dhoni slammed a brilliant ton, while Jayawardene contributed 107 off 106.
Asia XI had lost half their side for 72. However, Dhoni and Jayawardene lifted the team, adding 218 for the sixth wicket. The former slammed 15 fours and five sixes in his 144-minute knock. Africa XI came hard in the chase but finished on 318-7. Dhoni was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten ton and three stumpings.