Mahendra Singh Dhoni Joins Aussie Greats With a Century of ODI Victories
Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the third captain, after Allan Border and Ricky Ponting, to lead his country to 100 one-day international wins. This after India on Thursday decimated Bangladesh by 109 runs to enter the World Cup semis.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni added another feather to his burgeoning cap after India demolished Bangladesh by 109 runs to book a semifinal berth in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Dhoni became the third skipper to lead his country to 100 one-day international wins, joining Australians Ricky Ponting and Allan Border in an elite league. (Scorecard)
Defending world champions India have been in incredible form, having won seven consecutive matches in this tournament. Dhoni has now led India to 11 consecutive victories over two editions of the World Cup.
Dhoni remains the only captain to win all three ICC tournaments - World T20 (2007), World Cup (2011) and Champions Trophy (2013). He now has the unique opportunity to add another world title to his crown. (Team India's Road to World Cup 2015 Semifinal)
After being appointed captain of a young limited-overs side back in 2007, Dhoni went from strength to strength and established himself as one of the shrewdest leaders in world cricket. His first real test was the Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series in Australia, which India won convincingly.
Dhoni's achievement has placed him in the company of Ponting, who won 165 out of the 230 ODIs he led Australia in over 10 years. Border was successful in 107 of the 178 ODIs he was captain in, while Dhoni reached the 100 landmark in his 178th ODI. The late South African skipper Hansie Cronje won 99 matches out of only 138.
However, forever the team-man, Dhoni chose to shower praise on his players and support staff instead of reflecting on his own achievements: "A lot of credit needs to go to the boys and the support staff. The good thing is not many players form our side are in the top run-scorers list, but the batting has performed,"
Dhoni has been in mediocre form with the bat in this World Cup but he has delivered whenever the team needed him. He steered a tricky chase against West Indies in Perth with an unbeaten 45 and was at the forefront again, versus Zimbabwe smashing an unbeaten 85 in an unbroken 196-run stand with Suresh Raina.