Of the three formats present in international cricket, the one in which Dhoni had the highest impact was One Day Internationals. Dhoni has exactly ten centuries in ODIs and hence his top 10 scores will include all of them. Let us now have a look at his top 10 scores in ODIs.
10. Mirpur, 101* vs Bangladesh (2010)
This match was a part of a triangular series between India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Bangladesh. This was the third match and both India and Bangladesh had lost their respective matches against Sri Lanka prior to this match. India was at a tricky situation when they were 51-3 chasing a big target of 297. From there on, however, Dhoni and Virat Kohli took charge and had a 152-run partnership and Dhoni stayed till the end and scored 101*.
9. Nagpur, 107 vs Sri Lanka (2009)
This was the 2nd match in the 5-match ODI series between India and Sri Lanka in 2009 in India. India was in 1-0 lead coming into this match. India batted first and started off poorly with 19-2 and 81-3 when Dhoni came in. Dhoni stayed on till the final over and scored 107 and India finished with 301 which eventually proved insufficient as Sri Lanka managed to chase it successfully.
8. Karachi, 109* vs Hong Kong (2008)
This match was a part of 2008 Asia Cup. As expected, this match proved to be a mismatch. India scored 374/4 courtesy a 96-ball 109* from Dhoni and a 68-ball 101 from Suresh Raina. India went on to eventually win the match by 256 runs.
7. Chennai, 113* vs Pakistan (2012)
Over the course of his career in ODIs, Dhoni was an expert in a particular situation. Whenever the top order or the entire first half of the batting line up gets skittled out for nothing, Dhoni stayed put at the crease and ensured they reach a fighting total, at the least.
This was one such occasion. Junaid Khan was bowling in a superb manner and India was at 29-5 even before the 10th over could get over. Dhoni came in at 5-down and stitched a 73 run-partnership with Raina and a 115-run partnership with Ravichandran Ashwin. Dhoni ended up scoring 113*, India finished at 227-6, which Pakistan ended up chasing fairly easily.
6. Nagpur, 124 vs Australia (2009)
India was batting first in this match. Dhoni came in at 97-3. He was involved in a cautious partnership with Gautam Gambhir, before shifting gears in the partnership with Suresh Raina. He ended up scoring 124 and India won the match comfortably.
5. Cuttack, 134 vs England (2017)
This match was known more for the comeback of Yuvraj Singh, who after getting struck by cancer, lost his fitness. He then started posting big numbers in the domestic circuit and made a comeback to the national side and then made a 150 this match. Dhoni played second fiddle wonderfully as both of them together rescued India from a 25-3 to 381-6. India went on to win the match by 15 runs.
4. Mohali, 139* vs Australia (2013)
This match had Dhoni coming in at 76-4. He then had to steady the innings, which he did with his 139*. He was involved in two important partnerships, one with Kohli and another with Ashwin. Finally, India ended up with 303 as the final score and it seemed sufficient when Australia needed 44 to win off the final 3 overs with just 4 wickets in hand. However, a 30 run over there led to Australia winning the match.
3. Chennai, 139* vs Africa XI (2007)
This was a special 3-match ODI series conducted by ICC between Asia XI and Africa XI. At the start of the third match, Asia XI already had an unassailable 2-0 lead. Dhoni came in at 72-5 and had a 218-run partnership with Mahela Jayawardene. Both of them got to their respective centuries. Jayawardene scored a 107 and Dhoni scored a 139*.
2. Visakhapatnam, 148 vs Pakistan (2005)
This innings was the one which announced the arrival of Dhoni to the international stage in a loud manner. He played four innings before this and didn’t manage to do anything significant. His talent, though was always known, due to his domestic and India-A exploits. Dhoni belted the ball in all directions during this knock of 148 which eventually sealed the deal for India in this match.
1. Jaipur, 183* vs Sri Lanka (2005)
Six months after his maiden ODI century, Dhoni produced yet another masterclass. Sri Lanka set an imposing target of 299 and Dhoni came in at 3 when India’s first wicket fell in the first over. From there on, however, what followed was Dhoni show. He started hitting sixes right from the initial deliveries. Dhoni’s 183* made an imposing target of 299 look small as India chased the target comfortably.
