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When MS Dhoni Failed To Score 8 Runs In The Final Over Of A T20I vs Zimbabwe

MS Dhoni dishing out a dive against Zimbabwe (AP)MS Dhoni dishing out a dive against Zimbabwe (AP)

MS Dhoni’s aura as a masterclass run-chaser made him an invincible asset for Indian cricket. Apart from orchestrating India’s remarkable 2011 World Cup win at home with the bat, the legendary wicketkeeper-batter unfurled numerous match-winning finishing acts throughout his career, especially in limited-overs internationals.

However, Dhoni did endure a painful failure or two every once in a while, and his inability of crossing the line against Zimbabwe during one of the T20Is from 2016 remains one of his most dreadful run-chase attempts to date. Here at OneCricket, we take a look back at what transpired in that match eight years ago at the Harare Sports Club.


When MS Dhoni failed to take India home against ZIM

In June 2016, MS Dhoni took a young Indian team on a six-match (three ODIs and three T20Is) tour of Zimbabwe. After winning the ODI series 3-0, the Indian team management fielded as many as five debutants for the T20I series opener at the Harare Sports Club on June 18.

Chasing 171 to win, Team India lost opener KL Rahul for a first-ball duck before fellow debutant Mandeep Singh consolidated the innings with number three Ambati Rayudu. However, their successive dismissals, coupled with Kedar Jadhav’s 19, left India reeling at 90-4 in 12.2 overs.

MS Dhoni, batting at number six, subsequently arrived to the crease and shared a 53-run partnership with top-scorer Manish Pandey (48 from 35 balls). The equation eventually boiled down to eight runs to get from the final over, with a well-set Dhoni and a newly-arrived Axar Patel batting at the crease.

As it turned out, Dhoni crumbled under pressure in front of Zimbabwe fast bowler Neville Madziva, managing just a single when India needed a boundary to win off the last ball of the match. Hosts Zimbabwe escaped with a 2-0 run win to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

MS Dhoni-led India, however, bounced back in the next two matches to pocket the three-game series by a 2-1 margin.