Top 5 innings by MS Dhoni in T20 cricket

4. 54* (29) vs KXIP (IPL, Dharamsala, 2010)

This knock ensured victory for Chennai in the final stages of the game and a spot in the semi-finals of the tournament, which they went on to win eventually.

The Kings XI had set a stiff target of 193, thanks to Shaun Marsh’s quickfire 88 off 57 balls. Chennai didn’t get off to the greatest of starts, with both openers back in the hut with just 4 overs bowled and 27 runs scored. But Raina did not lose his head and along with Badrinath, added 62 for the 3rd wicket, taking just 34 balls to do so.

When Raina got out, the Super Kings still required a 100-odd runs in the 10 overs to follow, and it was the perfect time for Dhoni to prove his mettle once again.

And sure enough, he rose to the occasion, seeing his team through with 2 balls remaining. A total of 28 were required in the last 2 overs that remained, and Dhoni and Morkel were present at the crease.

Dhoni faced Rusty Theron in the 19th over and managed to get two boundaries, one over long-off and another over mid-wicket, leaving 16 to be got of the last over.

Irfan Pathan came in to bowl the over to try his variations to stop Dhoni. But Dhoni was in no mood to give in, he hammered a couple of boundaries in the first three deliveries, leaving just 4 needed of the last 3.

He finished the innings in style on the very next delivery, heaving a huge blow over the long-on boundary, and was duly named the Man of the Match.