MS Dhoni's top five match-winning knocks in ODIs

Yuvraj Singh (L) waves his bat as Mahendra Singh Dhoni (R) waves a wicket after their victory over Pakistan during the third ODI against Pakistan at The Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore, 13 February 2006. (Getty Images)

5. India’s tour of Pakistan 2005/06, 3rd ODI

At the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, India were playing a critical match in the series that was tied at 1-1. Dhoni’s record against arch-rivals Pakistan was already stellar with a few sensational innings in the previous year.

Though, those runs have come when batting at number three. It was in this series that the wicket-keeper batsman began to create a reputation for himself as a finisher. Pakistan had put up a daunting total of 288 for India to chase.

India started off badly losing Gautam Gambhir and Irfan Pathan quickly but Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar steadied the Indian ship. The little master scored a valuable knock of 95 runs but succumbed halfway through the chase.

It was left to Yuvraj Singh – the skipper’s partner in many successful run-chases – and Dhoni to steer the ship. Dhoni finished with 72 runs of only 46 balls.