India’s captain cool, MS Dhoni is one of the best finishers in One Day International (ODI) cricket. If India are chasing and MS Dhoni is at the crease, the game is in India’s favour, more often than not. There is one more thing MS Dhoni is very good at- hitting a six to finish the game.
In this post we look at all the occasions when MS Dhoni hit a six to win an ODI for India:
1) Against West Indies in 2005 (Dambulla)
MS Dhoni started the “hitting a six to finish the game” saga against West Indies in 2005 at Dumbulla. Dhoni scored 15 runs off 11 balls and smashed a massive six to finish the game. India won the match by 6 wickets.
2) Against Zimbabwe in 2005 (Harare)
India were chasing a target of 251 runs and this is where MS Dhoni played a crucial knock of 67 runs off just 61 balls. Yuvraj Singh, who was striking the ball really well, got out for 120 in the end, but MS Dhoni one again finished the game with a massive six.
3) Against Sri Lanka in 2005 (Jaipur)
This knock was the changing point in MS Dhoni’s cricketing career. This knock transformed Dhoni for a ‘dasher’ to a complete batsman. MS Dhoni was promoted to No. 3, and he responded in the best possible manner. Dhoni scored an unbeaten 183 including 10 sixes. Dhoni smashed a massive six off Dilshan to finish the match in his trademark style.
4) Against Sri Lanka in 2005 (Pune)
India were chasing 262 and MS Dhoni finished it with two back-to-back sixes off Rusell Arnold. India won the match by 4 wickets and 26 balls to spare.
5) Against Pakistan in 2007 (Gwalior)
This match will be remembered for Sachin Tendulkar’s knock of 97 runs, but with almost 100 runs to score for a win, MS Dhoni played a crucial knock off 45 runs and finished it off in style with a huge six.
6) Against Pakistan in 2008 (Karachi)
This was an easy one for Dhoni as he came in to bat when India required only 69 runs to win with plenty of overs to spare. Dhoni scored 26 runs of 30 balls and finished it off with a six. This time, part-time bowler Younis Khan was at the receiving end.
7) Against Sri Lanka in 2011 (Mumbai)
Indian cricket lovers can never forget this six. Dhoni came in to bat at No. 4, ahead of in-form of Yuvraj Singh, and played one of the most crucial innings of his life. Dhoni scored 91 runs and deposited Nuwan Kulasekara to the stands at the Wankhede for the victory.
“India lift the World Cup.”
8) Against Sri Lanka in 2013 (Queen’s Park Oval)
15 runs were needed off the last over with only one wicket in hand, and MS Dhoni got them in four balls, including a couple of massive sixes. This is surely one of the best knocks MS Dhoni has played in ODI cricket.
9) Against Zimbabwe in 2015 (Eden Park)
And the latest one! At 92 for 4, India were in a spot of bother and this is where he stitched up a partnership with Suresh Raina to guide India home. Tinashe Panyangara was the bowler; Dhoni smashed the short ball for a six over the backward square boundary and India won the match by six wickets with eight balls to go.
By Aniket Arora
