What are some unforgettable batting partnerships of MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir?

The Mahi-Gauti partnership that never received limelight,yet was one of a kind-

Each and every Indian cricket fan is well aware of the unforgettable partnership between Gautam Gambhir and Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the Finals of the ICC CWC 2011. The duo shared a 109 run partnership,of 118 balls,to pull India out of trouble,and pull them closer to a win.

But not many might remember,that just 2 years prior to this,this very duo had flattened an even stronger Sri Lankan side,in the 4th ODI of a bilateral series,held in Colombo,in 2009.

Back then,Sri Lanka had a Sanath Jayasuriya. He was a three in one cricketer- a blasting opening batter,a brilliant spinner,and an equally agile fielder. His retirement weakened the opening spot of SL definitely,as Upul Tharanga,who opened in the 2011 CWC was never in his ranks.

Whatever,coming back to the match- India skipper Dhoni won the toss,and elected to bat first,on a sporty wicket.

Gautam Gambhir walked out to bat,with Virender Sehwag,his fellow opener.

Gambhir had a huge point to prove. He had had a stupendous year in 2008,where he had scored tons and tons of ODI runs,but had failed miserably against Sri Lanka,repeatedly struggling against their spinners.

So,he was determined to assert his importance.

Whatever,at a team score of 14,Nuwan Kulasekhara dismissed Sehwag,who was seen struggling with his timing,at a score of 5.

Out walked India skipper Dhoni,at no.3,which wasn’t his actual position.

And then,the hammering started.

Gautam Gambhir ferociously attacked the pace quartet of Nuwan,Fernando,Mathews and F. Maharoof,while Dhoni mercilessly took on poor M. Muralitharan,as the duo simply ran a riot against the strong SL line-up.

• Together,they put up 188 runs for the 2nd wicket,of just 184 balls.
• They brought up their 50 run partnership,of 52 balls.
• Gautam Gambhir clobbered a 101m massive 6,over long-on,against Angelo Mathews,to get to his 50 in style,and also bring up the 100 run-partneship between the duo,of exactly 100 balls.

Dhoni was definitely the aggressor of the two,while Gambhir was happy to play the role of a sheet anchor.

Finally,when Dhoni was on 94,of 97 balls,he decided to attack Sanath Jayasuriya,over long-on,only to find the tall Dilhara Fernando.

He missed out on a well-deserved century.

But Gambhir decided to avenge his loss.

He was on 97,of 111 balls.

He brought up his 6th ODI hundred,of 112 balls,with a fine 4 through covers.

After this,it was simple carnage for Gambhir,who finally made 150 of 147 balls,with 14 well timed fours,and a huge 6.

Thus,Gambhir became the first visiting batsman ever,to score 150 or more on Sri Lankan soil.

A memorable partnership of 188 runs,paved way for a gigantic total of 332 for India,which SL failed to chase.

Dhoni and Gambhir,a winning duo.✌

What are some of the best decisions taken by MS Dhoni on the field?

 

What are some of the best decisions taken by MS Dhoni on the field?

1. Playing slow, 2007 T20 WC

Whoever would have thought of that? That is counter-intuitive. While most teams decided to attack from the first ball in this tournament as 20 overs were too less, Dhoni told his top order to go slow and steady, keeping wickets in hand for 6 overs and hit out only after that.

Thanks to this while most teams had at least one collapse, India came out with competitive scores throughout the tournament, used tight bowling and fielding to choke their opponents and won the tournament.

2. Uthappa in bowl-out, Pakistan match, 2007 T20 WC

In a bowl-out, five bowlers have to hit the solitary stump and claim points. Again intuitively, you'd get your fast bowlers charging down and knocking down that stump. That's what

Pakistan did when they brought in quickies Yasir Arafat and Umar Gul.

Both missed!

India began with part-timer Virender Sehwag, moved on to Harbhajan Singh and then we had batsman Robin Uthappa of all people. All three hit! The reason for that was Dhoni picked only those who were most accurate in the practice sessions for this and not his best bowlers!

When Shahid Afridi also missed it was all over for Pakistan and they went down 0-3.

3. Giving Joginder the last over, 2007 T20 WC final.

Pakistan needed 13 runs in the last over with a solitary wicket in hand to win the inaugural tournament. Harbhajan Singh had an over to go and some thought the wily and experienced spinner would be first choice.

However Dhoni turned to newbie Joginder Sharma and curiously told him to bowl as wide as he could instead of taking a wicket. After a wide and a six, Dhoni told him to stick to the plan and an in form Misbah-ul-Haq holed out and a catch sealed Pakistan's fate!

Dhoni had already experimented by giving Joginder the last over against Australia in the semi-finals though at that time the 22-run target in six balls seemed too much. Joginder played international T20 cricket for just about a week in his entire life.

No-one in the history of cricket had such a brief career and went out on such a high, his last ball ever winning us the World Cup!

This was not the first time that Dhoni would outthink his opponent.

​​4. Trying to hit a Yorker for a 6

Growing up we were told that if the batsman managed to keep his wicket intact when faced with a Yorker, then it was a big achievement. At best you could eke out a couple of runs and that would be great.

Dhoni had other ideas. He kept trying his best to hit that unplayable delivery out of the park. Initially it looked like an extremely ugly and awkward shot. When it was pulled off, it looked like a fluke. Then he did it again. And again!

Today we simply call this the Helicopter Shot and have taken it for granted!

5. Negative bowling with Australia, final Test at Nagpur, 2008

India was leading 1-0 heading into the fourth and final Test at Nagpur. India made 441 and at the end of the second day, Australia was in a commanding 189/2 in 49 overs, a healthy run rate of about 3.9. It looked very likely that the Aussies would overtake us. On the third day, Dhoni, in only his third Test as captain, told all his bowlers to bowl well outside off stump. This negative tactic got the commentators' goat and his defensive or negative tactics were blasted by everyone.

'He's playing for the draw and securing his 1-0 lead' cried the purists of Test cricket. But it worked. Australia totally imploded and on Day 3 scored just 166 runs in 85.4 overs at an abysmal run rate of 1.9 to end up with a total of 355 runs, well behind India. The attackers couldn't defend.

Then India came out all guns blazing and Virender Sehwag's 92(107) set the platform and a Dhoni half-century meant that Australia had to chase an improbable 382. We won by a crushing 172 runs in the end to take the series 2-0, so much for playing out for a draw!

This was a war strategy of a general: To make a tactical retreat, lull your enemy into boredom and then launch a final assault. Another Dhoni hallmark that stays with his game till this present day!

Credit : Sify