Mahendra Singh Dhoni will play on Thursday with his mother’s name on the back of his jersey. All the other players will also have their mothers’ names on their jerseys under an initiative that intends to pay homage to mothers who have played a big role in their success. India are playing New Zealand in Visakhapatnam. This ground is special for Dhoni. He had done his mother proud here 11 years ago.
When Mahendra Singh Dhoni was selected in 2004/2005, the Indian team was in dire need of a wicket-keeper who was also a quality batsman. Rahul Dravid was keeping the wickets those days. Dhoni was selected for an ODI series against Bangladesh. He was run-out on duck in his first match. The series turned out to be average for Dhoni. However, despite his below par performance, MS Dhoni was given another chance to prove himself. He was selected for the ODI series against Pakistan in 2005.
MS Dhoni led India ousted Sri Lanka to lift the ICC 2011 World Cup. (Photo: PTI)
Mahendra Singh Dhoni was given a chance to bat at number 3 in the second ODI of the series at Visakhapatnam. He made the best use of the opportunity he had got. He hit the Pakistani bowlers all around the park for sixes and four. He hit 4 sixes and 15 fours to score 148 runs in just 123 balls. His strike-rate was 120.32. India made 356 runs in that match and won the match by 58 runs. That was the first time Dhoni became a hero. After that he kept on repeating his heroics. Dhoni has proved time and again that he is one of the biggest heroes Indian cricket has seen. He captained the team in the T20 World Cup 2007 that India won. He also captained India in the 2011 ODI World Cup win. Dhoni also became world’s best match finisher.
Visakhapatnam is also special for retired batsman Virender Sehwag. In the match when Dhoni scored his maiden hundred, Sehwag had also scored a blazing 74 in just 40 balls. Enjoy the innings.
Courtesy: YouTube/ robelinda2
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