#ThisDayThatYear: MS Dhoni announces his arrival with a blistering ton
What's the story
On April 5, 2005, Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck his maiden international hundred in an ODI against Pakistan at Visakhapatnam. Seeing Dhoni's impeccable pinch-hitting, the-then skipper Sourav Ganguly decided to promote Dhoni in the batting order. The move worked big-time as Dhoni gave the Pakistani bowlers a run for their money. Here is how the exhilarating contest between India and Pakistan panned out.
India
Dhoni's resounding knock propelled India to 356
Batting first, India were off to a steady start with Virender Sehwag giving his usual treatment to the bowlers. However, Sachin Tendulkar was removed in the fourth over. In came Dhoni, who started whacking the bowlers from the first ball. Dhoni added 96 with Sehwag and latter shared a 149-run stand with Rahul Dravid. His 123-ball 148 guided India to 356 after 50 overs.
Pakistan
Pakistan fell short of 58 runs to seal the game
The Indians were delighted as opener Shahid Afridi was dismissed early on. Abdul Razzaq's 88-run knock inspired hope, but an untimely run out of captain Inzamam-ul-Haq derailed the chase. The Indian bowlers were able to get the better of Pakistan middle order despite a fighting 71 by Mohammad Yousuf. Nehra took four and Yuvraj Singh scalped three with the visitors managing 298.
Dhoni
Dhoni finished with a strike rate of 120.32
Dhoni's exhilarating knock was studded with 15 fours and 4 sixes. Although Afridi tried to sledge him early in the innings, a rather composed Dhoni smashed him all around the park in the match. Later that year, he went on to register his highest ODI score (183* vs Sri Lanka), still the highest individual score by a wicket-keeper in the ODI format.
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Unique records held by Dhoni
Dhoni (8,324) has most ODI runs batting at number five or below. He also has affected most stumpings in international cricket (195 in 538 matches). Dhoni is the only captain to have won all three ICC trophies (World T20, World Cup and Champions Trophy).