Mahendra Singh Dhoni made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2005. Dhoni was picked in the Test team on this basis of his performance in limited overs cricket, but he made an early impact in Test cricket when he scored a hundred in his second Test series against Pakistan in Pakistan. In the Test series against Pakistan in Pakistan in 2006, Dhoni scored 179 runs at an average of 59.66. After this series, Dhoni didn’t do well in the next three series Test series. But, Dhoni’s stature grew in Indian cricket after his young team won the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007.
Now that Dhoni has announced his retirement from Test cricket, it’s the right time to look back at this Test career and list down his top 5 moments in Test cricket.
Here are top five moments of MS Dhoni’s Test career:
1) MAIDEN TEST HUNDRED
Young MS Dhoni, with long black-brown hair, took on Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar in an aggressive counter-attack as the ball flew to all parts of the ground at Faisalabad. His 148 included 19 fours and 4 massive sixes, and also helped India save the match.
2) FIRST OVERSEAS TEST SERIES WIN
Having replaced Anil Kumble as India’s Test captain, MS Dhoni tasted success very early in his Test career. Dhoni won 1-0 in New Zealand and announced himself as India’s Test captain.
3) TOOK INDIA TO THE TOP OF THE TEST TREE
In 2008, MS Dhoni took India to the top of the Test tree, the first time ever since official rankings were introduced. This is arguably Dhoni’s biggest achievement as Indian captain.
4) ICC TEST CAPTAIN
With India having reached the number one position in Tests, It wasn’t a surprise when MS Dhoni was named as the captain of the World XI during the ICC Awards, 2010.
5) FIRST DOUBLE TON
MS Dhoni was under a lot of pressure due to his batting form when Australia toured India in 2012/13. Dhoni took on the challenge and blasted his first ever Test double ton at Chennai. Dhoni smashed 6 sixes and 24 fours in his marathon innings. India also whitewashed Australia and won the series 4-0.
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By The Cricket Lounge
