One of the most successful captains world cricket has ever seen happens to be the superstar from Ranchi, MS Dhoni. Dhoni has won India all the 3 ICC trophies, being the first Indian captain to do so. He also has 2 Asia Cups and 5 IPL trophies under his belt. He is also a top wicketkeeper-batsman, and has scored over 10,000 runs in ODIs and over 4500 runs in test matches. In this article, we will have a look at the top 10 test knocks by the former Indian skipper.
1. 92 Vs Australia
After having drawn the first match of the Border-Gavaskar trophy in 2008, India faced Australia in the second test at Mohali. In the absence of regular test captain Anil Kumble due to injury, MS Dhoni was given the responsibility of the team in this game. MS led his team front the front and scored 92 runs off just 124 balls in the first innings, hitting 8 fours and 4 long sixes. In the second innings too, he was in sublime form as he scored a quickfire 68 runs. His contribution put India in the driving seat of the match and won his team the game by a huge margin of 320 runs. Dhoni was also awarded the Man of the Match award.
2. 92 Vs England
The only time the former Indian captain went close to the three-figure mark in England was in 2007, when his team visited England for a 3-test series in 2007. India were already 1-0 up after the first two tests, when the focus shifted to the Oval for the all-important series finale. In the first innings, all the Indian batters contributed brilliantly and MS was also one of them. He scored a quickfire 92 runs off just 81 balls, before Pietersen dismissed him. MS hit 9 fours and 4 sixes in this innings. The match ended in a draw and India won the series 1-0.
3. 98 Vs New Zealand
New Zealand visited India for a 3-match test series in late 2010. The first two games ended in draws, and the two teams went to Nagpur for the series decider. In India’s first innings, everyone contributed equally well. The Indian captain scored 98 runs in this innings. When he was just 2 runs away from his 5th test ton, he fell prey to the opposition captain Daniel Vettori. Inspite of failing to cross the three-figure mark, his innings was quite appreciated as he hit a dozen boundaries and even a six. India went on to win the game by an innings and 198 runs, thus winning the series 1-0.
4. 99 Vs England
Another instance when the Indian captain missed out on his well-deserved century was in 2012 when the English side toured India for a 4-match test series. In reply to England’s first innings total of 330, India was in a state of bother at one point of time when they lost 4 wickets with just 71 runs on the board. At this point, the skipper came out to bat and built a crucial partnership with Virat Kohli. Although the latter scored a century, MS missed his ton by a small margin of just 1 run as he was run out by the opposition captain when on 99. The match ended in a draw and the visitors won the series 2-1.
5. 100* Vs Sri Lanka
In the third test against Srilanka at the Brabourne Stadium in 2009, MS Dhoni scored his 3rd test century. In reply to the visitors’ first innings total of 393, India went off to a flying start. After Sehwag’s innings of 293 runs, the Indian skipper scored a quickfire century off just 154 balls, hitting 3 boundaries and 6 sixes in all. India posted a mammoth 726 runs on the board and went on the win the match by an innings and 24 runs.
6. 110 Vs Sri Lanka
In the same series as the previous one, MS Dhoni scored yet another century in the first match itself, held at the Motera, Ahmedabad. Coming out to bat, India was in some sort of trouble when they lost 5 wickets for just 157 runs in the first innings. The Indian skipper then walked out in the middle and added 224 runs with Rahul Dravid to steady the Indian ship. Dhoni scored 110 runs off 159 balls in this innings, which comprised 10 fours and 1 six. The match however ended in a draw.
7. 132* Vs South Africa
After suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of the Proteas in the first test, India was looking for a comeback in the final test of the series at the historic Eden Gardens in 2010. In reply to the visitors’ first innings total of 296, India posted 643 runs when they came out to bat. MS was one of the four batters to score a century in the Indian innings. The Indian captain scored 132 runs, hitting 12 fours and 3 sixes, and remained unbeaten. It was his 4th test ton. The home team went on to win the match and levelled the series 1-1.
8. 144 Vs West Indies
The West Indies toured India for a 3-match test series in 2011. In the second match of the series at the Eden Gardens, MS Dhoni scored his 5th test ton, his 2nd at this venue. He scored 144 runs off 175 balls, hitting 10 fours and 5 sixes, and having an impressive strike-rate of over 80. His innings, along with important contributions from Dravid and VVS Laxman helped India post 631 runs in their first innings. The home team emerged victorious as they beat the West Indies by an innings and 15 runs, thus winnig the series 2-0.
9. 148 Vs Pakistan
The former Indian captain scored his maiden test century against arch-rivals Pakistan at their own turf, when the Indian team visited the latter for a 3-match test series in early 2006. This ton also happens to be Dhoni’s only overseas century. The bashing wicketkeeper-batsman scored 148 runs off just 153 balls and hit 19 boundaries and 4 over-boundaries in the process. This knock ranks 2nd in this list.
10. 224 Vs Australia
MS Dhoni notched up his first and only test double-century against Australia at his second home, Chennai when the latter visited India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2013. Dhoni made a solid batting performance when his team came out to bat in reply to Australia’s 380 in the first innings. He played for over six hours and smashed 24 boundaries and 6 sixes in this innings. His 265-ball 224-run knock, along with Kohli’s century put the host in the driving seat. India went on to win the watch by 8 wickets and it is of no surprise that Dhoni got the Man of the Match award for this stunning knock. This knock happens to be Dhoni’s no. 1 test knock.
