Top 5 best innings of MS Dhoni in international cricket

Published at :July 7, 2023 at 9:12 PM

Modified at :July 7, 2023 at 11:36 PM

MS Dhoni is still the only captain to lead a country to ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy wins.

It will not be a wrong statement to say that MS Dhoni was India's best captain of all time. He led India to all the major ICC tournament wins under his leadership. In fact, he is the only captain in the history of the game to have led a country to ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, and Champions Trophy wins.

But not just the captaincy; he was probably one of the best finishers that the game has seen. MS Dhoni has won numerous games with his bat in a situation that looked out of control. His ODI numbers are just incredible. He has scored more than 10,000 runs with an average of over 50 and batted between 5th and 7th place for most of his career. So here we will discuss five top international knocks by MS Dhoni in his legendary career.

Here are the top five international knocks for MS Dhoni in international cricket

224 vs Australia, First Test in 2013:

MS Dhoni 224 vs Australia. (Image Source: BCCI)

The highest test score by an Indian wicket-keeper is 224, which was registered by MS Dhoni against Australia. It came at a crucial time when India were trailing by 380 runs and were at 196/4. Dhoni came to the crease and added a viral 128 runs with Virat Kohli for the fifth wicket.

MSD took on the Australian bowlers and put pressure on them. He smashed 24 boundaries and six sixes in his inning and helped India get a 198-run lead in the first inning, and they ended up winning the game.

134 vs England, Second ODI in 2017:

MS Dhoni's 134 against England in Cuttack turned out to be his last International century. (Image Source: BCCI)

One of the famous ODI centuries for MS Dhoni in the second half of his career. It came in the second ODI in 2017, when England toured India. The hosts were struggling at 25/3 when Dhoni joined Yuvraj Singh at the crease. The Indian duo then didn't look back. Both batters added a massive fourth wicket stand of 256 runs and smashed a century each.

Yuvraj got out after scoring 150 runs when India were 281 but Dhoni kept the counterattack going. He ended his innings at 134 off 122, including six maximums and 10 fours, and India scored a huge total of 381/6. India won that game by 15 runs, and that knock is remembered as one of the best knocks of Dhoni's career.

183* vs Sri Lanka, Third ODI in 2005:

MS Dhoni's highest ODI score - 183 came against Sri Lanka in 2005. (Image Source: AFP)

MS Dhoni's highest ODI score came against Sri Lanka in 2005, when India hosted Sri Lanka. It was the third ODI in Jaipur. Batting first, Sri Lanka posted a challenging total of 298/4, and chasing a 300-target those days was rare.

In response, India lost Sachin Tendulkar (2) early, and Dhoni was promoted to No. 3. From there on, he took all the onus in his hands and finished off the chase with an unbeaten 183 off 145, including 10 sixes and 15 fours. That is the highest score by a wicket-keeper to date in ODIs. India made 303/4 in 46.1 overs and won the game.

113* vs Pakistan, First ODI in 2012:

MS Dhoni celebrates his century against Pakistan in Chennai. (Image Source: BCCI)

Dhoni was the first player in the history of ODIs to have scored two centuries at No. 7. One of his remarkable ODI ton came against Pakistan in December 2012 in Chennai. That was the last time Pakistan toured India for a bilateral series. Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl first. India has had a horrible start, and they lost their top five for just 29 runs in 9.4 overs.

Then Dhoni added 73 runs with Suresh Raina (43) and an unbeaten 125 runs with Ravi Ashwin (31*). MSD smashed an unbeaten century and scored 113 off 125, with seven fours and three sixes, to help India reach a respectable total of 227/6. Though India lost the game and Pakistan made 228/4, but Dhoni was adjudged Man of the Match.

91* vs Sri Lanka, 2011 World Cup Final:

The iconic MS Dhoni six to finish off the World Cup 2011 final. (Image Source: ICC)

MS Dhoni led India to their second ODI World Cup win 2011 with a six in the final against Sri Lanka at Wankhede Stadium, which is one of the most iconic moments of Indian cricket. Batting first, Sri Lanka scored a tough total of 284/6, with a help of Mahela Jayawardene's 103 not out. Chasing the target, India lost Sachin Tendulkar (18) and Virender Sehwag (0) early and were under pressure.

Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli (35) stitched together a vital partnership of 83 runs. As soon as the partnership broke, Dhoni promoted himself ahead of Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina. He then added 109 with Gambhir, who also played an important knock of 97. Dhoni started his counterattack and smashed an unbeaten 91 off 79 with eight fours and two sixes. India reached 277/4 in 48.2 overs and registered the highest chase in the World Cup final, and the rest is history.