MS Dhoni is one of the most shrewd and clever wicket-keeper batsmen to have played the game. There have been multiple incidents where Dhoni has managed to come up with moments of genius that have absolutely changed entire scenarios of games. Here are top 5 Dhoni moments:
When Kieron Pollard tried to act too smart
In an ODI match against the West Indies, Dhoni was at the non-strikers end and the ball was hit to the long on boundary where Pollard was stationed. The batsmen completed the run and Pollard thought he could run them out by rolling the ball a little forward and tempting the batsmen into going for the second. Dhoni, being the speedster, ran to the danger end and by the time Pollard could pick the ball and throw it again, Dhoni was home and dry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpUg_hAJzxY
Wicketkeeper or a goalkeeper?
In an IPL match for RPS against KXIP, while Dhoni was keeping, the batsman tried to play a late cut to third man. Dhoni instinctively placed his right leg out and was able to block the ball from going to a certain boundary.
No-look run-out
In an Asia cup tie against the Bangladeshis, Dhoni was waiting for the ball at the strikers end from the deep. The fielder threw the ball with one bounce and the batsmen were on the verge of completing their second run. Instead of collecting the ball, Dhoni, with his back to the stumps, guided it backwards through his legs and the batsman was short of his crease.
2 runs out of nothing
During his early stages as an Indian batsman, Dhoni was playing an ODI against England. The ball went to the keeper who aimed at the stumps as the batsmen were attempting a run. He hit the stumps but the non-striker had safely reached the striking end. Dhoni, at the non-strikers end now, looked up and noticed that the keeper was still not in a position to collect the ball near the stumps and run out the batsman and in a flash, they ran another run to the joy of the crowds watching.
Run out mastery
In a match against the Aussies, Umesh Yadaav threw the ball from the deep as the batsmen were completing their second run. Dhoni nonchalantly approached the stumps and the batsman was deceived into thinking that there was some delay for the ball to arrive. Dhoni had set it up beautifully and in the end, the batsman was found short off his mark.
By Rohit Nair
