[Watch] When MS Dhoni Thwarted South Africa With Aggressive 90 In Centurion
Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni delayed the inevitable for India with fighting partnership (x.com)
South Africa remains India's final frontier in tests, considering the subcontinental powerhouse has yet to win a single series in the rainbow nation. However, the Indian team did come agonisingly close to winning one in 2011 under the astute leadership of now-retired MS Dhoni.
The former Indian captain led his side in their three-match Test expedition on South African shores, where they were humbled by an innings margin in the opener to concede an early series lead to the hosts.
Despite team's crashing defeat, the match did feature a spirited Indian fightback in the second innings, orchestrated by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and by a captain's knock from MS Dhoni.
When MS Dhoni defied Dale Steyn and co. in South Africa
Team India faced South Africa in Centurion in their series opener in December 2010. After being put into bat first by the hosts, India's famed batting line-up was extinguished inside the first 39 overs by Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn for just 136.
South Africa, in response, bludgeoned 620-4d to mount a huge 484-run first innings lead. Up against an uphill task, captain MS Dhoni arrived at the crease on the brink of a huge Indian defeat at 277-6. Thereafter, the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman shared a colossal 172-run partnership with Sachin Tendulkar for the seventh wicket.
While Tendulkar top-scored in the innings with 111* to register his 50th Test hundred, Dhoni clubbed 90 runs from just 106 deliveries in his counterattacking knock. The latter of the two cricketers punched out 14 boundaries in his innings and belligerently countered a charged-up Proteas attack comprising the likes of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Jacques Kallis.
Watch: MS Dhoni scorches South Africa with attacking 90
As it turned out, MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar's effort merely reduced India's defeat margin as they still lost the Test match by an innings and 25 runs. The visitors did level up the series by winning the subsequent affair in Durban before the series-deciding Test was drawn courtesy of twin hundreds from Jacques Kallis.
In their quest for a maiden series win in South Africa, Team India will also commence their hunt in 2023-24 with a Test match at Centurion. The much-awaited Test will be played between December 26 and December 30, with Rohit Sharma leading the group this time.
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