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MS Dhoni turns 45 years old on Tuesday, July 7. Unfortunately, he didn’t play a single game in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) after struggling with injuries. However, he was with the squad and even travelled to the stadium for Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) matches. On his birthday, it is a privilege to look back on three of the many clutch knocks played by MS Dhoni during his illustrious career.
India were chasing a tricky target of 202 on a sluggish surface in the tri-series final against Sri Lanka in Port of Spain. MS Dhoni, who was returning from an injury, had to bat with the tail after India collapsed from 139/4 to 192/9. The Men in Blue needed 15 to win in the last over. Shaminda Eranga was on the receiving end of an onslaught from the then Indian captain. After missing the first ball, Dhoni remained unfazed. In the next three deliveries, the wicketkeeper-batter hit two sixes and one four to help India win the match from the jaws of defeat and lift the title. He went on to finish many matches in the last over, but this one is fondly remembered by fans as it came in a final when India’s chips were down.
While Dhoni was more renowned as a white-ball cricketer, his numbers in Test cricket are very impressive. In 90 Tests, Dhoni amassed 4876 runs at an average of 38.09 and a strike rate of 59.12. He registered 33 fifties and six centuries during his Test career. One of the most important half-centuries in India’s red-ball cricket history was scored by Dhoni at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London in 2007. On the final day of the first Test, India needed to chase down an improbable 380-run target. However, the realistic target was to settle for a draw. India slumped to 145/5, with three hours of play remaining against a formidable England pace trio of James Anderson, Ryan Sidebottom, and Chris Tremlett. Dhoni curbed his natural aggressive instincts back then to score an unbeaten 76 off 159 balls. He had to bat against the second new ball and also shield the tail-enders. When bad light and rain forced an early end to the day, India were 282/9, with the Jharkhand stalwart standing tall.
It won’t be too wrong to say that the stakes can’t get higher than an ODI World Cup final. In 2011, India and Sri Lanka met in the final of the 10th 50-over World Cup. Chasing a 275-run target at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the home side were in a spot of bother at 114/3 when Dhoni entered the crease. He joined forces with Gautam Gambhir after promoting himself bravely above the in-form Yuvraj Singh. Dhoni forged a 109-run stand with Gambhir for the fourth wicket, helping India effectively shift the momentum in their favour. After Gambhir was dismissed for 97, Dhoni didn’t flinch. He stayed there till the end, hitting a six off Nuwan Kulasekara in the penultimate over of the match to end India’s 28-year wait for the World Cup. The legendary cricketer remained unbeaten on 91 after facing just 79 balls.
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