When MS Dhoni Saved India From A Huge Collapse In England

MS Dhoni scored 71 after India succumbed to 8-4 [Source: Screengrab/@officialenglandcricket/YouTube]MS Dhoni scored 71 after India succumbed to 8-4 [Source: Screengrab/@officialenglandcricket/YouTube]

Team India crashed for just 46 in the first innings of their series-opening Test match against New Zealand at Bengaluru on October 17. As many as five batters, including Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, fell without opening their account as the entire star-studded Indian line-up capitulated in front of just three New Zealand pacemen, Tim Southee (1-8), Matt Henry (5-15) and William O’Rourke (4-22).

Apparently, this is not the first instance where an Indian batting line-up crumbled against an opposition in a Test innings. Back in August 2014 at Manchester’s Old Trafford, a MS Dhoni-led Indian team found itself at the precipice of an even worse collapse, only to be rescued by their captain with a stunning defiance.

When MS Dhoni rescued Team India from 8-4

In the fourth Test of India’s five-match away series against England back in August 2014, the visitors lost each of their top four batters to James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara all fell for ducks as India slipped to 8-4 within the first six overs of the match.

At the precipice of a huge batting collapse away from home, then captain and legendary middle-order batter MS Dhoni defied the English attack with a courageous 71-run knock from 133 balls. He belted 15 thumping boundaries in the process, and formed counterattacking partnerships with Ajinkya Rahane (24 off 52) and Ravichandran Ashwin (40 off 42).

Dhoni’s rebellious innings ensured Team India gained some respectability by crossing the 150-run mark (152 all out) after batting out for a session-and-a-half. India’s dismal batting card from the match featured as many as six ducks, from the likes of Murali Vijay and then newcomer Virat Kohli.

While MS Dhoni saved Indian batting from the blushes, his team still fell to a huge innings defeat by 54 runs to go 1-2 down in the five-match series.