Is MS Dhoni overrated? Know the facts

By Kaif - September 25, 2024
Last updated on Sep 25, 2024 01:20 PM

People criticize MS Dhoni every day on social media that MS Dhoni is like this, Dhoni plays for himself, MS Dhoni could not even score 25 runs in 11 balls in the 2019 World Cup and was run out. People troll him a lot on social media for this too. So today in this blog we will know whether MS Dhoni is overrated or he is just defamed by some people

Is MS Dhoni overrated? Know the facts

MS Dhoni Batting Records

Image Source: BCCI-X

8918 ODI Runs at an average of 51.25, bating 83% of his innings at either number 5 or 6. He is the 18th highest run-getter in Odi’s, and the 17 above him are either openers or bat at no.3 or 4
4876 test runs at an average of 38.09, again batting at number 5 or 6.
9 ODI 100’s and 60 half centuries, batting at no. 5 or 6.
6 test 100’s, a double hundred, and 33 half-centuries, batting at no. 5 or 6.

No other wicketkeeper in the past had to take such a massive responsibility in the batting department. There are a few like Gilchrist and Sangakkara who have scored heavily despite being keepers, but surely they did not have to deal with hopes of 1.2 billion people. Every time India is in trouble, Dhoni is expected to bring them out of jail. Every time India requires that finishing kick, dhoni is expected play a quickfire cameo. Every time India requires to chase down huge totals, with the run rate soaring high, dhoni is expected to do what he does best- finish it off and take india to yet another win.

MS Dhoni Wicket Keeping Records

Image Source: BCCI-X

4th highest dismissals (catching+stumping) as a wicket keeper- 1.276 dismissals per innings. Kumar Sangakkara has the highest with 482 dismissals. MS Dhoni has 82 less innings as a wicketkeeper than Kumar Sangakkara.
MS Dhoni has 89 stumpings to his name in ODI’s which is second to only Sangakkara with 99 stumpings. Keep in mind, MS Dhoni has played 82 innings less.
294 test dismissals (5th highest in test cricket) in 166 innings. Mark Boucher is way ahead with 555 dismissals in 281 innings. 38 stumpings for MS Dhoni which is the second-highest of all times.
Apart from the stats, MS is very quick behind the stumps and his reflexes are top notch. Dhoni has delivered the ball to the wicket without even looking at it many times.

Also Read: IPL 2025: CSK can retain these players before the mega auction, what about Dhoni

MS Dhoni Captaincy Records

Image Source: BCCI-X

104 ODI wins in 191 matches with a win % of 58.88. Only Ricky Ponting and Allan Border have more wins than Dhoni.
27 test wins in 60 matches with a win % of 45.
Only captain in the history of cricket to take his team to number one in all formats of the game.
T20 World Cup, 50 over World Cup, and a champions trophy- has all the ICC trophies that exist.
The present Indian team is considered a world-class fielding outfit, easily on par with the likes of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, if not better. We all know about the fielding standards of India before MS Dhoni.
Indian ODI team under Dhoni chases 300 or plus on a regular basis. In fact, it was the Indian team under him that started to chase such daunting totals on a regular basis. No other team, even in the MS Dhoni era has chased such huge totals on a regular basis, let alone before him.
Takes responsibility of defeats and is happy to see the team celebrate from behind when they win.
Is regularly criticized for every loss the Indian team suffers. Still smiles and never loses his cool.

You can decide for yourself whether MS Dhoni is overrated or not

NOTE: This is in no way meant to belittle Sangakkara or any of the other players with whom we have made some comparisons. They are legends of the game and deserve the utmost respect.

Also Read: Why CSK Banned For 2 Years, Will CSK be banned from IPL again