Four times MS Dhoni proved his greatness in ODI Cricket

There are stars, there are superstars, and there is MS Dhoni. From a long haired with shenanigans to hit monstrous sixes to being a leader of the ship, the transformation of MS Dhoni over the years is one of the fairytales of Indian cricket.

Dhoni, of course, is an obscure character who deludes himself from the limelight and believes in working on the process.

And this is where the legend of MS Dhoni is built on. From having immaculate confidence in his own ability to taking a chunk of responsibilities on his shoulders, MS Dhoni flatters to deceive with his demeanor.

While people may have apprehensions of his technique as a Test batsman, the ODI format is where Dhoni has managed to build a legacy for himself. In 318 ODIs, Dhoni has accumulated 9967 runs at an average of 51.38 and strike rate of 88.41.

In this blog, we will have a look at the four instances where MS Dhoni proved his greatness as an ODI batsman:

Here's my compilation:

---

#4 Australia vs. India, Chennai 2017

The phoenix rises again

MS Dhoni (79 off 88 balls)

Chennai has always been a happy hunting ground for MS Dhoni, and he didn't disappoint this time either. It was the series opener between India and Australia. India batting first quickly found themselves in a lot of trouble on a cloudy Chennai afternoon tottering at 3/12.That soon became 5/87 and in walked MS Dhoni to a raucous reception from the Chennai crowd. Dhoni (79) played perfect second fiddle to a belligerent Hardik Pandya (83) initially but took on the role of an aggressor after Pandya departed in the 40th over.

He along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (32) helped India post a competitive 7/281 in their allotted 50 overs. Dhoni was particularly brutal on James Faulkner (1/67) taking him to the cleaners in the 49th over collecting 16 runs in the process. The rain played a spoilsport, however, as the heavens opened before the start of Australian innings. The Duckworth-Lewis eventually came into effect, and the revised target for the Aussies was a theocratically more comfortable 164 off 21 overs.

Australia was never really in the game as Hardik Pandya (2/28) and the two attacking wrist spinners in Yuzvendra Chahal (3/30), and Kuldeep Yadav (2/33) led India to a 26 run win. Pandya may have got the 'Man of the Match' performance for his all-round display, but MS Dhoni's pragmatic innings portrayed a supporting role without which the comeback wouldn't have materialized.

#3 India vs. Pakistan, Chennai 2012

One of the finest ODI knocks by Dhoni

MS Dhoni (113 off 125 runs)

It had been five years since India and Pakistan competed in a bilateral series, and when the 3 match ODI series finally kicked off at Chennai, all eyes were on the famed Indian batting line-up. Having won the toss, Misbah-ul Haq decided to make first use of the overcast conditions by opting to bowl first.

His decision was complemented by the Pakistani bowlers especially Junaid Khan (4/43), who exploited the overcast conditions to devastating effect as he ripped through the top-order leaving the hosts gasping for breath in the first ten overs. The Indian captain then found an able ally in Suresh Raina (43) first and then Ravi Ashwin (31).

Dhoni on his way to the 8th ODI hundred put on a record seventh wicket partnership of 121 runs with Ravi Ashwin that helped India post a respectable total of 6/227. India, despite Dhoni's superlative knock, went on to lose the game by six wickets, but his innings helped the host stay competitive for a better part of the game which looked almost impossible after they were reduced to 5/29.

#2 Australia vs. India, CB Series, Adelaide 2012

It is perhaps the innings that best exemplifies the valor and confidence that MS Dhoni has in his capabilities

MS Dhoni (44* off 58 balls)

It is perhaps the innings that best exemplifies the valor and confidence that MS Dhoni has in his capabilities. India, after having been drubbed 0-4 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, were up against the odds when Australia had set them a stiff target of 270 at the Adelaide Oval. India's run chase was anchored by Gautam Gambhir's resilient 92 before Dhoni (46*) and Raina took the visitors close with a stand of 61.

Raina perished in the 47th over, and Ravindra Jadeja followed him in the 49th, but Dhoni remained to polish off the remaining runs. Dhoni's composure was best measured by how he paced his innings. It bordered on the statuesque early, before he switched gears coupled with swift running between the wickets.

With 12 required off the last four balls, Dhoni gave an account of the confidence he has in his ability when he refused Ashwin the single and then smashed Clint McKay for a 112m six over long-on clearing the most extended boundary in Australia with ridiculous ease.

Such was the impact of that strike that McKay lost the plot entirely and Dhoni proceeded to knock off the remaining runs to register India's highest successful run chase in Australia beating the previous chase of 260 against New Zealand back in 1986.

#1 India vs. Sri Lanka, Celkon Mobile Cup Final, Trinidad 2013

Dhoni singlehandedly won India the Celkon Mobile Cup Final

MS Dhoni (45* off 52 balls)

India, buoyed by the Champions Trophy win in England headed to the Caribbean to feature in a Tri-nation series involving the West Indies and Sri Lanka. India was playing Sri Lankan for the Umpteenth time in an ODI final and on a docile pitch where batting was increasingly difficult, the Men in Blue were set a tricky target of 202. MS Dhoni who was not a hundred percent fit decided to compete in the final, a decision that would have substantial bearings on the outcome of the match.

India lost Dhawan (16) and Kohli (2) inside the first ten overs. Rohit Sharma (58) played a valiant knock o before getting bamboozled by a vile Rangana Herath (4/20). His dismissal triggered yet another collapse as 4/139 quickly became 7/152. It all came down to MS Dhoni in the end with India 9 wickets down and requiring a further 12 runs with six legitimate bowls remaining.

In a game where there haven't been a six scored by either side, MS Dhoni nailed rookie fast bowler Shaminda Eranga (2/50) for two sixes over extra cover to clinch the title for India.