Mahendra Singh Dhoni announces retirement from international cricket. The ‘Captain Cool’ will never be forgotten and will be marked as India’s most successful Captain in ODIs and T20I. The most successful skipper went on to win all 3 major ICC tournaments.
We take a look at the top 6 best Knocks of ‘Mahi’ in International Cricket.
148 vs Pakistan (Pakistan Tour of India 2005)
The very first ODI century of MSD’s career was a very special one indeed. The knock came in a match-winning cause and also marked the record for the highest Individual runs by an Indian wicket-keeper in ODIs during that year. Also, India posted its second-highest total during that year at home turf i.e. 356 for 9 after 376 for 2 at Hyderabad in 1999 being the first highest.
183 Not Out vs Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka Tour of India 2005)
Again an unforgettable knock and the highest individual score in Dhoni’s long Career, along with the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper in ODIs, surpassing Adam Gilchrist’s 172 against Zimbabwe in 2004. The knock came in a winning cause when the team was chasing a huge total of 299. It was Dhoni’s smashing innings of 15 fours and 10 sixes which ensured that the team will chase down the total in comfort.
76 Not out vs England (2007 Test Series)
This knock was a match-saving knock as India was under jaws of defeat in the fourth innings chasing a huge total of 380. But Dhoni kept his calm and scored a crucial unbeaten 76 until the game was stopped due to bad light in the 3rd session and finally ended up in a draw. Finally, India went on to win the 3 Test match Series 1-0 and a series win in England after a long time.
91 Not Out vs Sri Lanka (ICC World Cup 2011 Final)
No one would ever forget this knock and the finishing six by the Captain. ‘Dhoni finishes off in style. A magnificent strike into the crowd. India lift the World Cup after 28 years’ these iconic lines will never be forgotten by the Indian cricket fans. When the team was struggling, it was the match-winning partnership put up by Gautam Gambhir and Dhoni which confirmed the second World Cup for India at Home.
50 Not out vs Srilanka (Commonwealth Bank Tri Series 2008)
Although Yuvraj Singh played a valuable innings of 76 in this match, but at the end it was Captain Cool’s knock of 50 not out and something very different about this knock was that there were no boundaries scored in this. This shows that how well Dhoni handles the pressure.
224 Not out vs Australia(Border Gavaskar Trophy 2012-2013)
Talking about this knock, it was certainly a ‘One Man Show’ in the scorching Chennai weather. When Dhoni, alongside the contributions of the lower batting order and tail-enders went on to post a huge mammoth score of 572. It was impossible for the visitor to bounce back into the match due to this. A very important knock from Mahi at the start of the Test series to boost the team confidence, as India went on to win the Test match and won the 4-Test match Series with a sweeping margin of 4-0.
