A long-haired, well-built man walked out on the crease against Bangladesh for his international debut, but his first match in the blue was not a rosy outing as he was run out for a duck. He, however, went on to became the most successful ODI skipper of Team India and one of the most destructive batsmen of the modern times.
The man was Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who led the men in blue to all major international titles and stamped himself as one of the best skippers of the Indian team. Although, his unorthodox playing style put him under scanner each time India toured abroad, but Dhoni remained Team India’s pillar in a number of foreign series.
Against all odds, MS Dhoni made himself a talisman of the Indian team and that happened after the breakthrough hundred against Pakistan in Vizag. Batting at number three, Dhoni ensured that Team India does not lose momentum and post a mammoth target for the touring party in the second one-dayer at VDCA Stadium, Vishakhapatnam.
Dhoni made 123-ball 148, featuring 15 fours and four mighty sixes, and stitched a crucial 149-run partnership with Rahul Dravid for the fourth wicket. Team India posted a 357 runs target, but the Pakistan team failed to chase the total and succumbed to a 58 runs defeat, despite fifties from Abdul Razzak and Yousuf Youhana.
Watch MS Dhoni’s breakthrough innings against Pakistan
