5 innings of MS Dhoni Every Fan Should Watch
The most successful Indian captain, a brilliant wicket-keeper, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, and India's only captain to win both the 50-over World Cup and T20 World Cup - MS Dhoni has announced his retirement from international cricket.
In 2011, India ended a 27-year wait for the ODI World Cup under his captaincy. Over the years, Dhoni built a legacy as one of India's finest finishers. He was also known for his calmness on the field and his ability to perform under pressure.
Dhoni's career was built on more than batting. His wicketkeeping, captaincy, fitness and ability to make decisions under pressure made him one of the most influential figures in Indian cricket. Fans can also read about the life lessons from MS Dhoni to understand some of the qualities associated with his successful career.
Let's relive some of his most memorable innings where he finished matches in his trademark style. Here are five MS Dhoni innings every cricket fan should watch, along with links to the available video highlights.
Celkon Mobile Cup Final, Port of Spain
India faced Sri Lanka in the final of the 2013 Celkon Mobile Cup at Port of Spain. Dhoni returned from injury and played a crucial unbeaten innings of 45 runs from 52 balls to help India win the final.
Watch MS Dhoni's Celkon Cup highlights on YouTube
Check out Full Scorecard
Commonwealth Bank Series, Adelaide
Dhoni produced another memorable performance during India's tour of Australia in 2012. In the Adelaide ODI against Australia, he played a captain's innings during a tense chase and showed once again why he was regarded as one of the best finishers in limited-overs cricket.
Watch the Adelaide highlights on YouTube
Check out Full Scorecard
Sri Lanka Tour of India, Jaipur
One of the most iconic innings of Dhoni's career came in Jaipur in 2005. Chasing 299 against Sri Lanka, Dhoni smashed an unbeaten 183 off 145 balls, including 15 fours and 10 sixes. It remains one of the most celebrated ODI innings of his career.
Watch Dhoni's 183 highlights on YouTube
Check out Full Scorecard
India Tour of West Indies, Gros Islet
During India's 2009 tour of the West Indies, Dhoni played a fighting innings of 95 runs in Gros Islet. His knock came when India needed stability and showed his ability to handle pressure even when the conditions were challenging.
Watch Dhoni's 95-run innings highlights on YouTube
Check out Full Scorecard
T20 World Cup, Bengaluru
India's 2016 T20 World Cup match against Bangladesh produced one of Dhoni's most memorable moments. Although his contribution was not a traditional batting masterclass, his awareness and lightning-fast wicketkeeping on the final ball helped India secure a dramatic victory.
Watch the India vs Bangladesh highlights on YouTube
Check out Full Scorecard
Why Dhoni's Batting Style Remains Influential
Dhoni's batting was built around timing, power, awareness and the ability to assess the required run rate. Players who want to improve their own batting fundamentals can explore these batting skills in cricket, including stance, footwork, timing and shot selection.
Modern cricket also places a major emphasis on athletic ability. Speed, stamina, agility and strength can all influence a player's performance, and our guide to cricket fitness exercises covers several exercises used to develop these areas.
Dhoni's generation also paved the way for a new generation of Indian cricket stars. If you enjoy following emerging talent, you can explore our list of young Indian cricketers who are attracting attention in the modern game.
And as promised, here is a surprise for you.
Video Shared by Mahi With His Retirement Announcement
Watch Dhoni's original retirement video on Instagram
Dhoni and India's Greatest Cricketing Memories
Dhoni's career belongs to an era that also produced several unforgettable Indian batting performances. For fans who enjoy comparing great Indian match-winning innings, Bloggers Globe also covers the best five knocks of Virat Kohli.
From his explosive 183 in Jaipur to his famous finishing style, Dhoni gave Indian cricket fans countless memorable moments. His ability to stay composed while chasing difficult targets became one of the defining features of his batting career.
Which one is your best memory from Dhoni's innings? Share it in the comment box.
Video credit: YouTube
Scorecard credit: ESPNcricinfo
