Evolution of “The Dhoni”

1.The beginning
India vs Pakistan 2nd ODI, Vizag, April 2005

With three consecutive disappointing performances from his debut, in his just 4th ODI match, Dhoni announced himself on the international stage by making destructive 148 from from just 123 balls against the biggest cricket rivals of India. With the spectacular 15 boundaries and 4 lofty sixes, helped Team India reach 9/356 from 50 overs. Pakistan gave tough fight in response but wasn’t enough as India grab the 58 run win. The remarkable match as a star was born.

2. The Rise
India vs Sri Lanka 3rd ODI, Jaipur 2005

Dhoni introduced himself with this nasty knock against Sri Lanka at Jaipur. The long-haired mighty 25 year old Mahi walked out to bat after the dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar with scoreboard equation 7/1. Came out as pinch hitter, which we might see getting a quick for 50 or so but very difficult to carry that fashion for extended time. That wasn’t the case with Dhoni, as his dazzling inning of 183 of just 145 balls flooded with 15 boundaries and 10 destructive sixes, he took India single handedly win with 6 wickets in hand and chased down 299 runs with 4 overs to spare.

3. The Adelaide cameo
Australia vs India 2nd ODI, Adelaide,  February 2012

Australia while batting first, made a defendable 269 runs from their 50 overs. India while chasing the target needed 92 of 95 deliveries when Gambhir got out for 92. Dhoni, who loves taking a run chase to the very last over scored 44 from 58 balls. What made this inning exceptional was the fact that India needed 13 runs from last over. Dhoni, who hadn’t hit the boundary before the final over, came on strike requiring 12 runs off 4 balls. He dispatched 3rd delivery into the famous Adelaide Oval hill, the gigantic 112 meters six was one of the biggest six ever hit on the venue. Needing 6 off 3, he played in his style and took India to victory with two balls to spare.

4. ‘Dhoni abhi khel raha hai’
India vs Sri Lanka Final, Tri-nation Series, Port of Spain July 2013

After missing a few games before this final, he showed how invaluable he is to the team as he hits a magnificent 45* off 52 balls to win India tri-series.
Chasing a very achievable 202 runs, India was in total control as they reached 3/139 in 32 overs. But after dismissal of Rohit Sharma, team’s wickets collapse like a cards that left India reeling at 9/182. Needing 15 from last over and just no.11 Ishant Sharma for company. Dhoni was strike and hope wasn’t lost. Dhoni, being a confident worrier ready to face. After missing out a first delivery with no run, Captain cool delivered the next three balls for lofty 6, 4 and 6 respectively, finished it off in his style. Ingniting a cracker strip in a dressing room by Dhoni, India won on of the most memorable ODI wins.

5. The roar of Lion in IPL
RCB vs CSK Bengaluru 2019

One the best inning in IPL history by Dhoni. Batted first,  RCB scored 161 runs in their 20 overs. In a defense, RCB’s Stayne and Umesh Yadav put CSK on back foot to 4/28.
Dhoni, in his own style rebuilt the inning, while batting on 60, Yadav came in to defend 26 runs off in final 6 deliveries. Thala showcased his hard big-hitting talent once again as he bagged one four and three sixes in first 5 deliveries. Needing 2 in 1 ball, unfortunately run out non striker led CSK’s defeate by smallest margin. Dhoni records his highest T20 score and became first Indian player to hit 200 sixes in IPL that night.

6. Supergiant for Pune
Rising Pune Supergiants vs Kings XI Punjab, 2016

This was the first time MS was not donning yellow jersey, was drafted into Pune team. Was criticized for his captaincy and lack of form, MS again shut the mouth of haters by his bat.
While batted first Kings made respectable 7/172 in their 20 over. When RPS batted, the struggle all came down the last two overs when RPS needed 29 runs to win. The brilliant bowling by Mohit Sharma in 19th, gave just 6 runs. 23 runs required in the final, over was bowled by Axar Patel. MS was on strike, first ball with no run scored followed by wide delivery. 2nd ball he smashed into stands, again 3rd dot ball and then struck 4,6,6 in a row with last one by helicopter!

7. The Finisher
India vs Sri Lanka World Cup Final, Mumbai, April 2011

In an inning that carried the weight of more than a billion people, Dhoni evolved as greatest of all time. In the biggest match of his career  MS bravely decided to promote himself before Yuvi, who was in brilliant form right through the tournament. Dhoni hadn’t perform well and was in patchy form before final, scoring 150 runs in 8 matched with a highest score of 34. If by chance, his move in the final had failed, he would have been ridiculed by others. But “wo dhoni hai”, he knew his strength and believed in his game, therein lays Dhoni’s greatness. He started the inning slowly as usual, kept it simple. He didn’t even know when he was batting that he completed half century. After Gambhir departs, he took all on himself and along with Yuvi, “Dhoni finishes off in style and India lifts the world cup after 28 years” (I know you hearing these words through Ravi Shastri’s voice while reading). The Dhoni way!!

Throughout this, from start of the match to all the ceremony to press conference, Dhoni hadn’t take a bite of solid food. When he came to press conference, he asked to his very dear friend, cricket journalist Sunandan Lele that “Lele sahab, kuch khane ko hai kya?, biscuits ya kuch bahot bhook lagi hai, Dinbhar se kuch khaya nhi hai”, Lele handed him 4 Goodday biscuits which left in that only packet Lele had. He took that like child and finished them quickly, he was so hungry literally!”
This incident was recently shared by Sunandan Lele himself on his Facebook live, you can still go and watch there.