On Thursday which is a weekday, thousands packed the Barabati stadium in Cuttack to witness another stellar knock from Virat Kohli. But just three overs into the game, the spectators were shell shocked as the Indian captain edged one off Chris Woakes to the slips having scored just 8 runs.
In the fifth over Shikhar Dhawan did the same and India were left reeling at 25/3. Out came Mahendra Singh Dhoni to join Yuvraj Singh in the middle and what happened thereafter exceeded everyone’s expectations around the world.
It was Yuvraj who looked quite solid from the start and Dhoni was happy to play second fiddle. But once the ball had lost its shine, both batsmen tonked the hapless England bowlers to all parts of the ground.
By the time Yuvraj got out after a scintillating 150, the duo had put on a record 4th wicket stand of 256 runs. From 25/3, the score read 281/4.
Dhoni eventually got holed out trying to flick one into the stands for 134. India finished with 381 on the board and after a bit of a scare won the game by 15 runs. Many believe it was the best they have seen the pair bat together.
Here in this piece, we bring out five other sublime stands between Dhoni and Yuvraj in ODIs.
#5 Commonwealth Bank Series 2008, Sri Lanka versus India
Sri Lanka batted first in this high-voltage encounter at Adelaide. But the Indian pacers were able to pave early inroads into the Lankan batting line-up by dismissing the dangerous Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya with just six runs on the scoreboard.
The trusted duo of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara then helped bail their side out of the precarious situation and posted 238/6 after the end of 50 overs.
India got off to a disastrous start as they lost Sachin Tendulkar early. They lost three more wickets in quick succession and before long were reduced to 99/4.
Sri Lanka sniffed a chance to get back into the game, but all their hopes were dashed by MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh who put on a crucial 59-run stand.
#4 India versus Zimbabwe 2005, Videocon Triangular series
India had put Zimbabwe in after winning the toss in the game at Harare. After some initial hiccups, the hosts’ innings got going courtesy of Tatenda Taibu and Charles Coventry.
The duo put on an 116-run partnership to steady their innings but then Taibu got out after 71. The likes of Andy Blignaut then ensured Zimbabwe would have at least 250 on their board.
In reply, India did not have a good start at all as Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid fell cheaply. At one stage they were struggling at 36/4. Yuvraj Singh and Venugopal Rao took the score to 94 but then the latter got out. Thereafter it was an MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh show.
Dhoni once again chose to sit back and give the strike to Yuvraj as much possible. And the prolific left-hander bludgeoned the rival bowlers to all parts of the ground. By the time Yuvraj got out the duo had put on 158 runs with the score reading 249. India won the game by four wickets. This was also the duo’s highest partnership before the game in Cuttack yesterday.
#3 India in Pakistan 2006, fifth ODI
On what looked like a lively wicket India sent Pakistan to bat in Karachi. But the plan backfired on the visitors as Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf struck brilliant half-tons to help Pakistan put on 286/8 after 50 overs.
Indian captain Rahul Dravid along with Gautam Gambhir provided a solid start for India. Gambhir was the first one to depart after a brisk 38 and then Dravid got out for 50. With Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly not in the team things looked like it would get messy, but then Yuvraj and Dhoni got together to rescue India.
The duo put on 146 runs to seal the game for India with Dhoni contributing 77 and Yuvraj scoring 107. India cruised to victory with 8 wickets and 19 balls to spare.
India eventually got over the line with two wickets to spare.
#2 India versus Australia, third ODI 2009
The 7-game series was levelled at 1-1 as the two teams met at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. After winning the toss Australia decided to bat but after some solid knocks at the top, the middle order failed to get going.
As a result the visitors only managed 229/5 in their 50 overs with Michael Hussey top-scoring with 81. Ricky Ponting contributed 59 to the total.
India struggled in the run chase and before long they were reduced to 53/3. But then it was all about the Dhoni-Yuvraj show as they put on 148 runs to take India to a famous win.
Yuvraj was declared the man-of-the-match for his dazzling 78, while Dhoni remained unbeaten after a dominating 71.
#1 India versus Sri Lanka, World Cup final 2011
Many would argue of this choice saying, this should feature somewhere towards the bottom of the list as the duo only put up an unbroken stand of 54 runs. But those 54 runs were perhaps the most crucial runs in the history of Indian cricket.
Having won the toss, Sri Lanka batted first at the Wankhede. They were pegged back throughout the innings with wickets falling but the talismanic Mahela Jayawardene held his end up.
Jayawardene came up with a brilliant innings off 103 and was well supported by Kumar Sangakkara who got 48. A flourish towards the end from Thisara Perera helped Sri Lanka post a challenging 274.
India got off to a disastrous start with Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar departing early but Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni rescued the men in blue from sinking. When Gambhir fell with the score at 233/4, Sri Lanka still believed they had a chance. But out came Yuvraj Singh and played a steady hand of 21 to support Dhoni who at the other end remained unbeaten on 91 to win India their second ever World Cup.
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