Celebrating Captain Cool: 5 incredible records held by MS Dhoni in ODI cricket

After an embarrassing first-ball run-out on his ODI debut against Bangladesh in 2004, MS Dhoni has only gone from strength to strength in the 50-over format. Undoubtedly one of the greatest finishers the game of cricket has ever seen, the former Indian captain led his team to two major ODI honours - the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy and the 2011 World Cup.

Apart from these collective honours, MS Dhoni also has a host of individual accolades to his name in ODI cricket. He was the first Indian cricketer to win ODI Player of the Year twice - a feat he achieved in consecutive years in 2008 and 2009 - beating the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag to the prize.

In this article, we take a look at 5 incredible records held by MS Dhoni, who turns 39 on July 7, in ODI cricket.

---

#5 MS Dhoni has the highest individual score for a keeper in ODIs

MS Dhoni pulverised a hapless Sri Lankan attack to score 183* while chasing 299 in 2005 at Jaipur

In October 2005, MS Dhoni scored a blistering 183* against Sri Lanka at Jaipur, which remains to this day the highest score by a wicket-keeper in ODIs. Chasing a daunting 299, the stumper, who was just one year into international cricket at the time, hit 15 fours and 10 sixes in his 145-ball knock.

Coming in at #3, he formed partnerships with Sehwag and Rahul Dravid to take his side to a 3-0 lead in the 7-match ODI series. Interestingly, MS Dhoni also holds the 4th position on the list, with Aussie legend Adam Gilchrist's 172 and 154 claiming the 2nd and 3rd spots respectively.

Another Indian batsman makes the list at #5 - Dravid, again against Sri Lanka.

---

#4 MS Dhoni has affected the most stumpings in ODIs

MS Dhoni became the first wicket-keeper in ODI history to affect 100 stumpings

This stat might not come as a surprise to many, given that MS Dhoni is undoubtedly one of the best wicket-keepers ever. However, the fact of the matter is that he is 24 stumpings ahead of second-placed Kumar Sangakkara, who himself was always behind the sticks to world-class spinners.

In 345 innings donning the gloves, MS Dhoni managed 123 stumpings and another 321 catches. He is third on the list of most dismissals in ODI cricket, behind only Gilchrist and Sangakkara.

The former Indian skipper's lightning-quick reflexes have amazed cricket fans all across the world, but just how good MS Dhoni is behind the wickets is evidenced by this record.

---

#3 MS Dhoni has the most not-outs in ODIs

MS Dhoni is one of the best finishers the game of cricket has ever seen

In 350 ODIs, MS Dhoni has remained unbeaten an astonishing 84 times. 3 of the next 4 spots on the list are occupied by players who were predominantly bowlers - Shaun Pollock, Chaminda Vaas, and Muttiah Muralitharan.

With 12 more unbeaten innings than the South African, MS Dhoni has established himself as the clear winner among players with the most not-outs in ODIs. Interestingly, he achieved this feat in his 300th ODI, and still remains the only Indian in the top 10 of this list.

The middle-order batsman has also remained not out 50 times (in 145 innings) while chasing, 13 times more than second-placed Mohammad Azharuddin. Out of these 50 instances, India were victorious in 47 games. MS Dhoni also has 18 scores of above 50 while chasing, adding further weight to his credentials as one of the best second-innings batsmen ODI cricket has ever seen.

---

#2 MS Dhoni was the first player to score 10,000 runs at an average of over 50

MS Dhoni has reinvented the role of the finisher, especially in One-Day International cricket

Out of the 14 players who have scored over 10,000 runs in ODIs, only two average more than 50 - former Indian captain MS Dhoni and current skipper Virat Kohli. The gloveman has averaged 50.57 over his 16-year international career and in July 2018, he became the first Indian to scale 'Mount 10,000' at a 50-plus average.

MS Dhoni was also the second wicket-keeper after Kumar Sangakkara to achieve the feat. In fact, even among players who have scored over 7,500 runs in ODI cricket, only AB de Villiers boasts of an average of over 50, putting this incredible MS Dhoni record into perspective.

---

#1 MS Dhoni has won the most games among Indian captains in ODIs

MS Dhoni has won the most games as the captain of the Indian team in One-Day International cricket

After leading the India team to the 2007 T20 World Cup in South Africa in thrilling fashion, MS Dhoni was immediately thrown into consideration for the role at the helm of the Test and ODI sides, led then by Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid respectively.

After Dravid handed him the reins of the Indian ODI side in 2007, MS Dhoni immediately led the team to bilateral series wins in Sri Lanka and New Zealand, setting the precedent for what was going to become the greatest Indian captaincy reign of all time.

In the 200 ODI matches MS Dhoni has captained India in, he has emerged victorious on 110 occasions, a win percentage of 59.52. Only the great Ricky Ponting has more wins as captain in ODIs, with 165 to his name.

Among Indian captains, Mohammad Azharuddin and Sourav Ganguly rank second and third, with 90 and 76 wins respectively, but both their win percentages are nowhere near the 2011 World Cup-winning skipper's.

---