MS Dhoni      

The spectacular arrival of Virender Sehwag was bound to inspire others to bat with the same mindset. But the odds of a clone emerging from the backwaters of Jharkhand, whose state side has consistently scraped the bottom, was highly remote. That was until Mahendra Singh Dhoni arrived.

He can be swashbuckling with the bat and secure with the wicketkeeping gloves. His neck-length hair adds to his dash. Though Dhoni made his first-class debut in the 1999-2000 season, it was only in 2004 that he became a serious contender for national selection with some stirring performances when the occasion demanded. With his two centuries against Pakistan A, in the triangular tournament in Kenya, that he established himself as a clinical destroyer of bowling attacks.

The spectacular arrival of Virender Sehwag was bound to inspire others to bat with the same mindset. But the odds of a clone emerging from the backwaters of Jharkhand, whose state side has consistently scraped the bottom, was highly remote. That was until Mahendra Singh Dhoni arrived.

He can be swashbuckling with the bat and secure with the wicketkeeping gloves. His neck-length hair adds to his dash. Though Dhoni made his first-class debut in the 1999-2000 season, it was only in 2004 that he became a serious contender for national selection with some stirring performances when the occasion demanded. With his two centuries against Pakistan A, in the triangular tournament in Kenya, that he established himself as a clinical destroyer of bowling attacks.

In just his fifth one-dayer, against Pakistan at Vishakapatnam, he cracked a dazzling 148 - putting even Sehwag in the shade - and followed that up with a colossal 183 not out at Jaipur against Sri Lanka in November, when he broke Adam Gilchrist's record for the highest score by a wicketkeeper in ODIs. He made an instant impact on the Test level too, pounding 148 at Faisalabad, in only his fifth Test.

He was elevated to the vice-captaincy of the one-day squad for the tour of England and Ireland in 2007 and, soon after, was appointed captain of the Twenty20 squad for the World Championship in South Africa. A heady title triumph marked him out as a leader for the future and was handed over the reins of the one-day side in September 2007 after Rahul Dravid decided to step down as captain. It didn't take too long for him to enhance his reputation, claiming India's first tri-series triumph in Australia. He captained Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, losing out to Shane Warne's Rajasthan Royals in a tense final. As a stop-gap Test captain, he was credited with leading India to their biggest ever win in terms of runs (320), against Australia in Mohali.

August 16 and 19, 2004
An "A" tour
• Scores consecutive centuries against Pakistan A, which guide India A into the final of the triangular tournament. Is named Man of the Series.
  
December 23, Chittagong
An uncharacteristic start
• At 23, makes his ODI debut in Chittagong, and is run out for a duck. Finishes the three-match series with 19 runs.
  
February 8, 2005
Missing Test selection
• Smashes an unbeaten 102 off 96 balls for India Seniors against India B in the Challenger Series. However, Dinesh Karthik is picked to keep wicket for the forthcoming Test series against Pakistan.
  
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April 5, 2005
Hello, India
• Picked for the home ODI series against Pakistan, captures the imagination of the country by plundering 148 off 123 balls at No. 3 in only his fifth ODI innings. This is the first one-day century by an Indian wicketkeeper - barring Rahul Dravid. India pile up a mammoth 356, and take a 2-0 lead in the series.
  
October 31, 2005
Double the fun
• Having established himself in the one-day side, shatters records by smashing 183 not out off 145 balls with 15 fours and 10 sixes in Jaipur, as India successfully chase Sri Lanka's 298. It is the highest ODI score by a wicketkeeper, and spurs India to a 3-0 series lead. Is adjudged Man of the Series after India beat Sri Lanka 6-1.
  
December 2, 2005
Tests, here I come
• Makes his Test debut in Chennai, and scores 30 in a rain-ruined match against Sri Lanka.
  
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December 12, 2005
Early to rise
• Scores his maiden Test half-century - 51 off 51 balls - in the second innings of the Delhi Test against Sri Lanka, and adds unbeaten 104 runs for the seventh wicket with Yuvraj Singh, a partnership that puts the Test beyond Sri Lanka's reach.
  
January 23-24, 2006
Have shots, will play
• First Test century. At 281 for 5 in reply to Pakistan's 588 in Faisalabad, India are facing a charged-up Shoaib Akhtar and a follow-on looms large. Plays an array of memorable hooks, and blitzes his way to 148 off 153 balls, and gives India a 15-run lead.
  
February 6, 13, 19, 2006
Finishing moves
• Continues his excellent ODI form in Pakistan, and develops a reputation of a finisher, scoring 68 off 53 balls, 72 off 46 balls, and 77 off 56 in the five-match series in Pakistan, which India win 4-1.
  
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April 20, 2006
At the top of the world
• With an average over 52 after 42 matches, at a strike-rate of 103, displaces Ricky Ponting as the No. 1 batsman in the ICC ODI rankings.
  
May 10, 2007
Winning on one leg
• Battles cramps and saves India further ODI embarrassment after the World Cup. Chasing Bangladesh's 250 in Mirpur, India are in a disarray at 63 for 3, but he steers them home with 91 off 106 balls.
  
July 23, 2007
Serene saviour
• Saves the Lord's Test with a dour innings by his standards. Chasing a target of 380 in the first Test, India are 145 for 5 with the best part of the final day remaining. Shelves his cavalier approach, rides his luck, bats for over three hours, and faces 159 balls for his 76 not out. Manages to hang on until rain forces a premature end to the Test with India on 282 for 9. India go on to win the three-Test series 1-0.
  
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August 7, 2007
One who will
• Is named India's captain for the ICC World Twenty20, after Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly have opted out of the competition.
  
September 18, 2007
Natural progression
• Following Rahul Dravid's resignation as captain, is chosen to lead India's ODI side.
  
September 24, 2007
Sensational in South Africa
• No-one gives India a chance, but leads the to the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 title. His captaincy comes in for plenty of praise.
  
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February-March, 2008
His own man
• Comes in for criticism for bold non-selections of Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid for the CB Series. Is vindicated as India go on to win the Australian triangular event for the first time, beating Australia 2-0 in the final series.
  
April 11-13, 2008
Test captain
• In Anil Kumble's absence, captains in Tests for the first time, and India beat South Africa in three days on a Kanpur minefield to level the series 1-1.
  
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148 v Pakistan, Visakhapatman, 2004-05
• Dhoni is playing his fifth ODI and walks in at No. 3 after Sachin Tendulkar has fallen in the fourth over. The pitch is flat, and Dhoni cashes in in a spectacular manner. He scores his maiden ODI century, 148 off 123 balls with 15 fours and four sixes, and by the time he's done Virender Sehwag's 74 off 40 balls has been overshadowed. It is the highest score by an Indian wicketkeeper - barring Rahul Dravid - and by the time Dhoni is out, India are 289 for 4 in the 42nd over.
  
183 v Sri Lanka, Jaipur, 2005-06
• Sri Lanka set India a formidable 299 to win, and India lose Tendulkar in the first over. But Dhoni, promoted to No. 3, plunders 183 off 145 balls, and takes India to victory with 23 balls to spare. His innings includes 15 fours and 10 sixes, and it is the highest score by a wicketkeeper, the highest individual score batting second, and it has the highest number of runs scored in boundaries at the time.
  
148 v Pakistan, Faisalabad 2005-06
• After Pakistan have scored 588 in the first innings, India are in danger of conceding a massive first-innings lead after losing their top five for 281. Dhoni disregards the match situation, matched fire with fire, and what follows is a breathless knock that kills any chances of a result in the Test. A fired-up Shoaib Akhtar steams in and peppers Dhoni with a barrage of short balls, but Dhoni responds with a thrilling counterattack, hooking and pulling with aggression that almost approaches recklessness. He hits four sixes and 19 fours in his innings for 148, which take him only 153 balls. By the time he is out, India trail by only 97 runs.
  
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India have already won the series ahead of the fifth ODI in Karachi, but the heat is once again on. Chasing 287, India need 141 off 118 balls when Dhoni, once again, pairs up with Yuvraj Singh. Dhoni plays his part to perfection, scoring 77 off 56 balls with four sixes. Together they run Pakistan ragged and take India to victory in the 47th over.
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76 v England at Lord's, 2007
• This is perhaps Dhoni's most valuable innings, for it helps India avoid impending defeat and provides the turnaround for a historic series victory in England. He has played an atrocious shot to get out for a duck in the first innings, and is the last of India's recognised batsmen, when at 145 for 5 India need to bat for more than two sessions to save the Test. He adds 86 for the sixth wicket with VVS Laxman who gets out with India on 231 for 6. Dhoni rides his luck, survives several edges and bats for 159 balls for his 76. He keeps losing partners, but manages to hang on with Sreesanth, the No 11, until the rain, which has threatened to arrive all day, finally does and ends the Test.
  
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