Road to the Cricket World Cup 2023. Hall of Fame: Mahendra Singh Dhoni

 Inspirational captain, one of the greats of modern cricket

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a winner all the way.

ONE-DAY WORLD CUP BATTING AND WICKETKEEPING: Matches 29, Innings 25, Not Out 7, Highest Score 91*, Runs 780, Average 43.33, Strike-rate 89.96, 50s 5, Catches 34, Stumpings 8 

From a blazing-hot long-haired top-order striker, the metamorphosis of Mahendra Singh Dhoni along the way to a canny finisher, Captain Cool to adoring millions, was remarkable. His place as an all-time great wicketkeeper-batsman is secure, as is his slot among the most successful leaders in all formats of the game. He led India to the title in the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007, saw the side climb to no. 1 spot in Test matches, and won the 2011 One-day World Cup. No legend of the sport is as unassuming and matter-of-fact about his fabulous achievements as is MS. Success rests lightly on his shoulders. True to type, his departure from the international scene was as subtle, and with no flourish, as the man himself.

Though he was out for a duck in the upset by Bangladesh on first appearance in the 2007 World Cup, Dhoni caught Tamim Iqbal, and stumped Shakib Al Hasan and the captain Habibul Bashar. As India made merry off the friendly Bermuda bowling, Dhoni hit 29 off 25 deliveries and took a catch to send back the burly Dwayne Leverock. With the side struggling to stay in the competition, Dhoni caught three Sri Lankan batsmen but was dismissed for another duck. It was a disastrous tournament for India, knocked out in the first stage.

The tide had turned at home in 2011. Dhoni had risen rapidly to assume captaincy, and India were one of the strong favourites. India piled up 370 for four off the Bangla attack, with Dhoni not getting his turn to bat. Though the Bangladesh batsmen put up strong resistance, the target was far beyond their reach. Dhoni had a stumping to his name.

 In the thrilling high-scoring tie with England, Dhoni hit a rapid-fire 31 off 25 balls, striking a six and 3 fours. He added 69 for the fourth wicket with Yuvraj Singh in 7.4 overs. They were out within a ball of each other. With the last five wickets falling in a heap after their departure, India were a bit disappointed that they did not get more than 338, and could not build on Sachin Tendulkar’s superb 120 (115 balls, 5 sixes, 10 fours). With skipper Andrew Strauss leading the way with a brilliant 158 (145 balls, 1 six, 18 fours), England finished on the same score with eight wickets down.

 India overcame Ireland with relative ease, Dhoni pouching three catches in a total of 207. With four wickets down for 100 in 23.4 overs, Dhoni combined once again with Yuvraj, putting on 67 in 16.3 overs. He scored a restrained 34 from 68 deliveries, hitting two boundaries. Yuvraj (50 not out) brought up victory in an unfinished stand of 43 with Yusuf Pathan (30 not out) in 5.5 overs.

 It was a similar outing with Holland. Dhoni took a catch and was a participant in two run outs in a score of 189. He was once more in tandem with Yuvraj, ushering in a five-wicket win in an unbroken partnership of 52 in 13.2 overs. Yuvraj was unbeaten with 51 and Dhoni with 19.

Once again, after a magnificent 111 (101 balls, 3 sixes, 8 fours) by Tendulkar, the lower-order capsized against South Africa. Dhoni was a bystander as the last five wickets crashed for 16 runs in 5.4 overs, with another 1.2 overs remaining. He returned in disbelief, 12 not out against his name as Dale Steyn did the damage with five for 50 in 9.4 overs. In fact, when Tendulkar was out, the score was 267 for two in 39.4 overs. From there India collapsed to 296 all out in 48.4 overs. The Proteas were solid through the order and broke away to register an exciting three-wicket victory with just two deliveries to spare. If only the lower half of the Indian batting had held out a bit longer! Dhoni registered a catch, a run out and a stumping.

India needed to regroup. Spurred by a fine hundred by Yuvraj (113 runs, 123 balls, 2 sixes, 10 fours), India posted 268 but again being bowled out inside the 50 overs. Dhoni and Yuvraj put on 45 for the fourth wicket in 9.2 overs. Dhoni scored 22 off 30 deliveries. West Indies were dismissed for 188, with Dhoni having a stumping to his name.

The quarter-final was a battle of prestige as Australia looked for their fourth straight title, their long unbeaten streak going back to 1999 already breached by Pakistan in their previous match. A hundred of sheer class by skipper Ricky Ponting (104 runs, 118 balls, 1 six, 7 fours), enabled the Aussies to post 260 for six. Some determined batting through the order by India saw them home by five wickets with 14 balls to spare. Dhoni, though, was dismissed for 7.

The sizzling, red-hot semi-final against Pakistan was played on a dodgy Mohali pitch. Sachin Tendulkar scored a fortuitous 85 (115 balls, 11 fours) as India posted 260 for nine. Dhoni put together 25 runs off 42 balls, adding a valuable 46 with Tendulkar in 11.3 overs. Pakistan put up a game bid but kept falling behind on the run-rate. They were eventually bowled out for 231 in 49.5 overs with the wickets shared equally by the five bowlers. Dhoni snapped up a catch.

 

The final at the Wankhede Stadium was a closely-contested faceoff. A tremendous unbeaten 103 (88 balls, 13 fours) by Mahela Jayawardene spurred Sri Lanka to hoist 274 for six. If would be the highest winning score in a World Cup final if India were to achieve it. There was disbelief as Virender Sehwag was trapped leg-before by Lasith Malinga off the second delivery for a duck. Then in the seventh over, there was stunned silence as Tendulkar edged Malinga into the gloves of skipper Kumar Sangakkara. It was 31 for two, and Tendulkar gone for 18. Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli put on 83 in 15.3 overs.

Then there was the stirring sight of captain Dhoni striding out briskly, promoting himself ahead of Yuvraj, to join Gambhir. It was a defining moment in the match. Having settled down, they began striking the boundaries. Dhoni slammed Muttiah Muralitharan through the covers to the fence, reaching his half-century from 52 deliveries. The century partnership came up in 17.5 overs. Just when it seemed that they were sailing, Gambhir had a rush of blood. He dashed out to Thisara Perera, had a big swing, missed and was castled. His superb 97 had come off 122 balls, embellished with 9 fours. They had put on 109 in 19.4 overs. There were now 52 runs to get in 8.4 overs as Yuvraj walked in. Dhoni slashed Perera high above point for a six. They struck a four each in the 47th over off Nuwan Kulasekara. In the next over Dhoni found the pickets at square-leg off two successive deliveries from Malinga. There were now only 7 runs required from 15 balls. The roar of excitement in the stadium could be heard a long distance away. And then with 4 needed in 11 deliveries, in a moment frozen in eternity, Dhoni swung Kulasekara high over long-on for a six. Wankhede Stadium erupted, as did all of India, and all Indians around the globe. India became the first team to win the World Cup on home soil. Dhoni returned triumphant with 91 to his name, having faced just 79 balls and hammered 2 sixes and 8 fours. He was man-of-the-match. Player-of-the-tournament Yuvraj Singh was unbeaten with 21 off 24 balls, having struck 2 fours. It was an exhilarating night as Dhoni lifted the gleaming ICC Trophy.

The opening clash for the defending champions in 2015 was against arch-rivals Pakistan. Virat Kohli’s hundred and his century partnerships with Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina carried India to 300 for seven. Dhoni scored 18 off 13 balls with a six and a four. Once Pakistan had lost five wickets for 103 at almost the half-way stage, they were never in the hunt. They folded up for 224. There were three catches for Dhoni.

It was Dhawan’s ton against the Proteas and his three-figure stands with Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane that took India to 307 for seven. Dhoni again got 18 runs, this time from 11 deliveries containing three boundaries, South Africa were bowled out for 177. Dhoni was involved in two run outs.

India skittled United Arab Emirates for 102, the lowest they dismissed a side for in the World Cup. Dhoni caught both the openers. India cruised to a nine-wicket win in 18.5 overs.

West Indies were bowled out for 182. Had it not been for skipper Jason Holder’s 57 at no. 9, their plight would have been much worse. Dhoni pouched two catches. India were in some strife at 78 for four after 17.5 overs when Dhoni walked in. There were two brief partnerships with Raina and Ravindra Jadeja, and then an unbroken 51-run stand in 9.4 overs with Ravichandran Ashwin that carried the side to victory. Dhoni was unbeaten with 45, having faced 56 deliveries and struck a six off Andre Russell and 3 fours.   

The Irish posted a respectable 259 in 49 overs. Dhoni caught two of them. With Dhawan hitting another century, India ran away with the game, winning by eight wickets in a mere 36.5 overs. With 12 victories in World Cup matches, Dhoni overtook Kapil Dev’s mark of 11 wins as captain.

Brendan Taylor’s consecutive hundred, a brilliant 138 in 110 balls with 5 sixes and 15 fours, spurred Zimbabwe to a formidable total of 287 in 48.5 overs. Dhoni was not to be left out of the action with two early catches. There was a tremendous unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 196 in 26 overs between Raina and Dhoni after India had slumped to 92 for four in 22.4 overs. Dhoni got into the groove with two successive boundaries off Solomon Mire on either side of the wicket. With the required rate climbing to almost 10, there was a spate of sixes and fours. The century stand came in 16.5 overs. Dhoni raised his half-century off 56 deliveries. Raina sped to his hundred in 94 balls. Dhoni slammed Tawanda Mupariwa for a six over long-on and a four to long-leg off successive balls. And then he banged a short one from Tinashe Panyangara over square-leg to bring up victory with eight balls to spare. It was India’s highest partnership in a run-chase, bettering the 174-run stand between Dhawan and Rohit Sharma against Ireland four days earlier.  An upset seemed a distinct possibility when the pair came together. Raina hit up 110 off 104 balls, having struck 4 sixes and 9 fours. Dhoni slammed 85 from 76 deliveries, banging 2 sixes and 8 fours. India’s score of 288 for four was their highest batting second in the World Cup.

The quarter-final was a no-contest with India hitting up 302 for six. Rohit Sharma struck a fine hundred and was associated in a century stand with Raina. Dhoni was dismissed for 6. Bangladesh could muster only just 193. Dhoni snapped up four catches. India bowled out their opponents for the seventh successive match, all in this tournament, the most by any team in the World Cup. They also clinched their 11th consecutive win in the World Cup beginning 20th March 2011, second after Australia’s amazing streak of 25 successive triumphs from 20th June 1999 to 25th February 2011. This was Dhoni’s 100th victory as captain in One-day Internationals, emulating the Australians Allan Border (107) and Ricky Ponting (165).

India ran out of steam in the semi-final, losing by 95 runs to Australia. Chasing 329, India were 108 for four in 23 overs when Dhoni entered the arena. He put on 70 with Ajinkya Rahane in 14.2 overs. He reached his fifty off 55 deliveries with a tremendous six over the covers and smashed one more over long-off off the next ball. He was run out for a run-a-ball 65, having struck 2 sixes and 3 fours. By then it was an impossible task and India were bowled out for 233. It was a wonderful run in the tournament prior to this semi-final. Dhoni put in a fine performance with 237 runs in 6 innings at an average of 59.25 and strike-rate of 102.15, and as many as 15 catches in the 8 matches.

By 2019, touching 38 years of age, Dhoni appeared a bit leaden-footed at the crease, and seemed to have lost his nimbleness. He was still his reliable and unobtrusive self behind the stumps, and as always put in a hundred percent effort to the cause of the side under a new leader, Virat Kohli. It was a clinical performance by India in their opening encounter with the Proteas. Restricting the opponents to 227 for nine, they sauntered to their target, losing just four wickets and with 2.3 overs to spare. There was a stumping by Dhoni. With the bat he allied with Rohit Sharma at 139 for three after 31.3 overs. They kept the scoreboard ticking, ahead of the required rate. Rohit brought up his century in 128 balls. The fifty partnership was raised in 11.1 overs. Dhoni was caught and bowled off a skier for 34, scored off 46 deliveries with two boundaries. The stand was worth 74 in 14.4 overs. There were now just 15 runs required from 23 balls. A few big blows by the new man Hardik Pandya were enough to bring up a comfortable win and provide India a fine start to the tournament. Rohit was unbeaten with a classy 122, having taken on 144 balls and embellished with 2 sixes and 13 fours.

In a high-scoring game, India prevailed over reigning champions Australia. This time Shikhar Dhawan hit up a century. Dhoni slammed a rapid-fire 27 off 14 deliveries with a six off Mitchell Starc and three fours. He put on 37 with Kohli for the fourth wicket in 3.2 overs, being caught and bowled once again. India posted a huge 352 for five. Australia were restricted to 316, Dhoni snapping up a catch.

The fixture with New Zealand was washed out. Then followed the needle encounter with Pakistan. Rohit Sharma struck his second hundred of the tournament, a superb 140 off 113 balls, studded with 3 sixes and 14 fours. India hit up 336 for five. Dhoni was caught behind for 1. With a rain interruption, Pakistan’s target was adjusted to 302 in 40 overs. They managed 212 for six. This was India’s seventh win over Pakistan in the World Cup in as many matches, going back to 1992.

India made heavy weather of their game versus Afghanistan. They put up 224 for eight. Dhoni put on 57 with Kedar Jadhav for the fifth wicket in 14 overs. He was stumped off leg-spinner Rashid Khan for 28 off 52 deliveries with 3 fours. With Afghanistan at 190 for six, with 27 balls left, there was an outside chance of an upset. That was when Dhoni stumped Rashid Khan. There were 16 runs to win off the last over with three wickets left. Mohammad Nabi slammed a boundary off the first delivery, followed by a dot. Then Mohammed Shami grabbed a hat-trick to soothe the frayed Indian nerves.

The scare at the hands of Afghanistan must have jolted the Indian squad. They were back to their best as they faced the West Indies. Dhoni joined Kohli at 140 for four after 28.5 overs. They added 40 in 9.3 overs. In another fine stand, Dhoni added 70 with Hardik Pandya from just 10 overs. Dhoni was on 40 when the last over began. He pulled Oshane Thomas for a six over mid-wicket. He slammed another for four at long-off to bring up his half-century in 59 deliveries. The last ball was also short, and he bludgeoned it for six over square-leg. Dhoni returned unbeaten with 56 off 61 balls, having struck 2 sixes and 3 fours. India posted a competitive 268 for seven. West Indies folded up for 143, Mohammed Shami bagging a successive four-wicket haul.  

England prevailed in a match of tall scores. They logged up 337 for seven, Mohammed Shami captured five for 69, his third consecutive haul of four or five wickets. He became the quickest to capture 30 wickets in the World Cup, in just 10 matches. Rohit Sharma carved out his third century of the tournament, and Kohli hit up his fifth consecutive fifty. With the required-rate already above 10 runs an over, Dhoni added 41 for the fifth wicket with Hardik Pandya in 5.4 overs, and another unfinished 39 with Kedar Jadhav in 5.1 overs, but the overs ran out with India 31 short of the English total. Dhoni was 42 not out off just 31 deliveries, having struck a six off Chris Woakes in the last over and four boundaries.

Built on an opening partnership of 180 runs in 29.2 overs between Rohit and Lokesh Rahul, India hoisted 314 for nine off the Bangladesh attack. It was a consecutive hundred for Rohit, his fourth ton in this World Cup, emulating Kumar Sangakkara’s feat of 2015. Dhoni added 40 with a belligerent Rishabh Pant in 5.3 overs. Dhoni scored 35 in 33 balls with four boundaries. Bangladesh made a game bid but were bowled out for 286 in 48 overs with a catch coming Dhoni’s way.

Sri Lanka put up 264 for seven. Dhoni accounted for the first four batsmen, three catches and a stumping. India’s opening partnership of 189 runs in 30.1 overs between Rahul and Rohit virtually settled the issue. Both hit up centuries, Rohit’s record fifth in this World Cup and third in succession. It was a seven-wicket triumph, with Dhoni not getting his turn to bat. India topped the league table with 15 points.

In the semi-final, New Zealand put up 239 for eight, with Dhoni pouching a catch. India made a disastrous start, 5 for three, 24 for four, 71 for five in 22.5 overs when Dhoni entered the scene, and 92 for six in 30.3 overs when he was joined by Ravindra Jadeja. There were 148 more runs required in 19.3 overs at a rate of almost 7.60. It was an uphill task. Jadeja showed his intent by slamming James Neesham for a huge six over long-on off his sixth delivery. He crashed another one off Mitchell Santner. The half-century of the partnership came in 8.4 overs. There were 90 required off the last 10 overs. Jadeja crashed Santner for his third six, and blasted another one off a slower one from Lockie Ferguson. The hundred of their stand came in 15 overs. The required-rate, though, was only climbing, 12.33 at the end of the 47th over. Jadeja was caught at long-off. His brilliant 77 came off 59 balls, having struck 4 fours besides the 4 sixes. In the next over, Dhoni slashed Ferguson for a six. He was run out going for a second run, a brilliant piece of fielding by Martin Guptill. He had scored a hard-fought 50 against the odds, with just a four besides the six. The ageing legend was not able to pull it off this time. India were all out for 221 in 49.3 overs. They had come close from a hopeless situation, thanks to the stellar efforts of Jadeja and Dhoni, but had to exit at the penultimate stage for the second time in a row.

In the evening of his career, Dhoni had given his all. A tally of 273 runs in 8 innings at an average of 45.50 and strike-rate of 87.78, and 10 dismissals were figures to be proud of. In his World Cup career of 29 matches, Dhoni hit up 780 runs at 43.33 per innings and 89.96 runs per 100 balls, to go with his 34 catches and 8 stumpings. In the World Cup too, he finished not only among the top wicketkeeper-batsmen but as a leader par excellence. The 2011 triumph, and the dramatic shot to clinch it, will forever remain etched in memory.

 As Sunil Gavaskar observed in the India Today Conclave in 2020, “Dhoni was definitely right at the top. The way Dhoni captained, the coolness that he brought in the team is special. His story doesn’t tell you the effort and the struggles that he went through.” How Mahendra Singh Dhoni metamorphosed from humble beginnings to the taciturn colossus of world cricket is the stuff of legend.

(Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s forthcoming book ‘Cricket World Cup: Hat-trick of Home Wins’).