Cricket in Numbers: When MS Dhoni Missed Overseas Centuries by a Whisker
MS Dhoni has been regarded as one of the best wicket-keeper batsmen for the Indian cricket team of all time. He has dominated for the team in both home and away games as a captain, making an impact with the bat and gloves.
Dhoni is also India’s most successful captain, winning three ICC trophies, which include the T20 World Cup 2007, the World Cup 2011, and the Champions Trophy 2013. Regardless of all these achievements, he is trolled for not having an overseas century in his entire career. It should be noted that despite not having a century, his contributions have been vital to the Indian team in all formats. Let’s take a look at the instances when Dhoni reached close to an overseas century but still didn’t achieve it.
India Tour of England 2007: 3rd Test
During the historic third Test match between India and England, where India was just inches away from securing a series win over the home team, Dhoni showcased his batting dominance. This match was being played at the Oval, and India decided to bat first, considering the pitch conditions. In the first innings, the team ended up scoring 664 runs.
In this, MS Dhoni, coming in at number 7, scored runs against the English bowlers, as he ended up his innings at 92 runs off 81 balls with 9 fours and 4 sixes. His wicket fell off while attempting to hit a shot towards deep square, which was caught by Alastair Cook. But this showcased that Dhoni played for the team, not for his milestones.
India Tour of England 2011: 3rd Test
During the India tour of England, MS Dhoni dominated the opposition with his bat once again. But this time also luck was not in his favour, as he missed out on another chance to reach an overseas century. In India’s first innings, he ended up scoring 77 runs off 96 deliveries with 10 fours and 3 sixes, before losing his wicket to Stuart Broad.
England responded pretty well to India’s total, as they scored 710 runs and declared. In response to that, India was only able to score 244 runs in its second innings and ended up losing the match by a big margin. However, Dhoni scored 74 runs off 79 balls in this innings and remained not out. If he had received support from the other end, it could’ve been his first.
India Tour of England 2014: 1st Test
Tests in England have always been good to bat for Mahendra Singh Dhoni, but his luck never favoured him to reach a century. After failing to reach by just a few runs, he went on another India tour of England in 2014. During the first Test, India decided to bat first and scored 457 runs in its first innings.
MS Dhoni scored 82 runs off 152 deliveries in this innings, with 7 fours. No English bowler had the answer to the question, how to take his wicket, and it seemed that he would score a century this time. But things turned soon, as James Anderson’s direct throw had Dhoni run out at the score of 82.
India Tour of England 2014: 5th Test
MS Dhoni’s missed opportunities on an overseas century continued even in the last Test match he had played in England. During the India tour of England 2014, the final Test match was being played at the Oval, and winning the toss, England decided to field first. This decision helped them well, as India ended up scoring 148 runs in its first innings.
Surely all the Indian batsmen failed to perform well, except MS Dhoni, who ended up scoring 82 runs off 140 balls with 15 fours and one six. He didn’t receive consistent support from the other end and eventually lost his wicket to Stuart Broad, ending close to a century yet again. In the second innings, he went out for a duck, as India lost the game by an innings and 244 runs.
India Tour of South Africa 2010: 1st Test
MS Dhoni not just missed out on an overseas century in England, but he also missed out on the same with a close margin in South Africa. During the first Test of the India tour of South Africa 2010, he showcased his resilience with the bat. The first Test was being played at Centurion, and the home team decided to field first.
India ended up scoring 136 runs in the first innings, where Dhoni scored just 33 runs. South Africa responded well with 620 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. In return, India scored 459 runs and got all out, where Dhoni ended up scoring 90 runs off 106 deliveries with 14 fours. In a delivery against Dale Steyn, he nicked it off to the wicket-keeper, being just a few runs away from his century. After this, Dhoni didn’t reach the half-century mark against the Proteas in Tests.
India Tour of West Indies 2011: 3rd Test
The final Test match played by Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the West Indies was another moment when he could’ve reached his first overseas Test century. During the last Test of the India tour of West Indies 2011, which was being played at Roseau, India decided to field first and sent the home team to bat. This decision helped them as the West Indies ended up scoring 204 runs in the first innings.
In return, India scored 347 runs in the second innings, where MS Dhoni was the top scorer with 74 runs off 133 balls with 4 fours. He tried a risk-free approach, which helped him reach this score, but it was still not enough to help him cross the 100-run mark. Later, the match resulted in a draw, as India scored 94 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in the fourth innings.
India vs Sri Lanka 2008: Commonwealth Bank Series
India, Sri Lanka, and Australia faced each other in a tri-series, which was being played in Australia. The second match, between India and Sri Lanka, was to be played in Brisbane, and it seemed that MS Dhoni would finally cross his first overseas century in this Test. India had won the toss in this match and decided to bat first against Sri Lanka.
This decision surely helped the team well, as they ended up scoring 267 runs for the loss of just 4 wickets. Gautam Gambhir ended up scoring a century, and he had a great partnership with MS Dhoni. However, Dhoni ended up scoring 88 runs off 95 balls with 5 fours and one six, dominating the Lankan bowlers with ease. He remained not out till the end, being just 12 runs away from his century.
India Tour of Australia 2019: 3rd ODI
In his retirement year, MS Dhoni was also a part of the Indian team for the tour of Australia, which had a three-match ODI series. During the final ODI, which was being played at Melbourne, Dhoni showcased why he is known as the finisher. Australia batted first in this match as the team ended up scoring 230 runs.
When it came to chasing down the target, MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav had an impressive partnership, which helped the team to win. In this partnership, Dhoni ended up scoring 87 runs off 114 balls with 6 fours, which helped India to win the match by 7 wickets. He remained as an anchor on one end, while Jadhav ended up scoring the boundaries.
India Tour of West Indies 2009: 2nd ODI
The closest MS Dhoni has ever been to an overseas century comes back in 2009, when India went on a tour of the West Indies, which also included an ODI series. The second match was being played at Gros Islet, and India decided to bat first, considering the pitch conditions. However, it didn’t turn out well for the team, as they got all out at the score of 188.
Amidst this, MS Dhoni stood as the lone warrior, as he scored 95 runs off 130 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes. At last, Taylor bowled a slower one to Dhoni, where he stepped out to attempt a shot, and missed it, which resulted in the ball hitting the stumps. The phrase, too close yet too far, became real for MS Dhoni, as he missed his century by just 5 runs. Later, the West Indies ended up winning the match by 8 wickets, with half-centuries of Chris Gayle and Runako Morton.
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