Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a legend in the Indian Premier League, especially for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), where he has led them to three glorious IPL trophies, proving his skills as one of the finest finishers in the game.
Dhoni is known for his flawless batting abilities and tactical brilliance, which have made CSK one of the most dominant teams in the league. Dhoni has played 250 matches in his IPL career, scoring 5082 runs with an amazing average of over 38, and hitting 24 fifties. Let’s take a look at some of the most unforgettable innings by MS Dhoni in the IPL.
Top 5 Best Knocks of MS Dhoni in IPL History
If you are a fan of MS Dhoni and his amazing batting skills in the IPL, you will love this list of his top 5 best innings in the league. These are the innings that showcase his legendary status as a cricketer and a leader.
MS Dhoni 84* – CSK vs RCB IPL 2019
Chasing 162 runs to win against Royal Challengers Bangalore, the Chennai Super Kings were in trouble at 83/5. That’s when MSD came to the rescue, smashing the Bangalore bowlers all over the park.
His incredible 84 off 48 balls was his highest individual score in the Indian Premier League, including a stunning 24 runs from the last five balls of the match. Dhoni’s heroic innings was not enough, however, as the visitors fell short by just 1 run, leaving Dhoni stranded in a match where he fought till the end but lost.
MS Dhoni 79* – CSK vs PBKS IPL 2018
Dhoni’s second-highest score of 79 was not enough to save CSK from a narrow defeat against the then-Kings XI Punjab. He came to bat in the 7th over when CSK were in trouble at 56/3, chasing a daunting target of 198.
He then unleashed a stunning display of batting, smashing six boundaries and five maximums in just 44 deliveries. He almost pulled off a miracle in the penultimate over, scoring 16 runs off it. However, CSK fell short by a whisker, losing the match by 5 runs. It was a heartbreaking end to Dhoni’s brilliant knock, which proved his mettle as a match-winner in tough situations.
MS Dhoni 75* – CSK vs RR IPL 2019
In a thrilling match against the Rajasthan Royals at Chepauk, CSK chose to bat first after winning the toss. To everyone’s surprise, MS came in at number 4 when the home team was struggling at 22/2 in the sixth over.
He then put on a masterclass of batting, smashing an unbeaten 75 off 46 balls with four boundaries and four maximums. He scored 60 runs in the last three overs with some explosive hitting, taking CSK to a respectable total of 175. He led his team to a narrow victory by 8 runs and was awarded the Player of the Match for his brilliant knock.
MS Dhoni 70* – CSK vs RCB IPL 2018
Dhoni’s knock was one of the greatest examples of a team’s revival, showing why MSD is regarded as one of the most reliable batters in cricket history. Chasing a massive target of 205, Dhoni’s team was in trouble at 74/4 in the 9th over. The captain came to the rescue, leading a stunning comeback in the next 10 overs and taking the visitors to a win with two balls remaining.
Dhoni remained unbeaten once again, scoring a superb 70 off just 35 balls. This brilliant display demonstrated Dhoni’s toughness and skill to handle difficult situations with grace.
MS Dhoni 51* – CSK vs MI IPL 2012
Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians are the two most successful teams in the IPL history, with nine trophies between them. In the 2012 eliminator, Chennai set a target of 187 for Mumbai to chase. However, Chennai struggled to reach that score until Dhoni came to the rescue. Chennai were only 100 for 4 in the 14th over.
That’s when the captain took charge. He smashed 51 not out in just 20 balls at a stunning strike rate of 255. He scored 73 runs in the last six overs with some explosive hitting, taking Chennai to a challenging total of 187. He led his team to a convincing victory by 38 runs.