A look back at the 7 greatest Indian Test innings of the 21st Century

5. MS Dhoni 224 vs Australia at Chennai, 2013

Australia v India: 3rd Test - Day 5

The first of four Tests between India and Australia was being played in Chennai. Australia grounded their way to a competitive 380 in the first innings, courtesy a Michael Clarke hundred. With the Indian team in a fix, at 196-4, out walked the Indian skipper, MS Dhoni.

He joined forces with Kohli and stitched a solid 128 run partnership. The Chepauk pitch represented a dust-bowl and Nathan Lyon was on top of his game and the opposition. Dhoni played the counter-attack to perfection and annihilated the Australian bowlers. He was at his belligerent best, carting bowlers all around the park on his way to 224. The Australians didn’t have an answer to the rustic jab, the unconventional slashes and the huge hits down the ground.

The most impressive aspect of his innings was the way the skipper took the attack to Australia. He set the tone for the rest of the series, which India won 4-0. Though Dhoni was not as successful in tests as he was in ODIs, those who witnessed that innings would rank it as one of the best ever played.

The Indian skipper for his exploits in Chennai gets the No.5 slot on our list.