The Border Gavaskar Trophy: Moments of Glory

Welcome to Episode 3 of The Border Gavaskar Trophy: Moments of Glory, where we revisit the most iconic moments from this fierce rivalry. In today’s episode, we highlight a memorable and captain’s innings by MS Dhoni, as he scored a brilliant 224.

The Border Gavaskar Trophy: Moments of Glory – MS Dhoni’s 224 unfolded

The Context: A Changing of the Guard

The series was more than just another chapter in the India-Australia rivalry; it marked a pivotal moment for both teams, each in the midst of transition. Australia, once the dominant force in world cricket, was beginning to feel the void left by the retirement of legends like Ricky Ponting in 2012, with Michael Hussey soon to follow. The team was in a rebuilding phase, with emerging talents such as David Warner, Usman Khawaja, and James Pattinson stepping into key roles.

On the Indian side, Sachin Tendulkar was nearing the end of his illustrious career, making this his final series against Australia on home soil. India was transitioning from the era of cricketing icons like Virender Sehwag, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, and VVS Laxman to a new generation of stars led by Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan. Under the leadership of MS Dhoni, the team was still balancing youth and experience, making the series feel like a crossroads for both nations.

Australia’s grip on world cricket had started to weaken after their dominant run of the early 2000s. The “invincible” Australian team that had ruthlessly defeated teams worldwide was slowly being dismantled. The 4-0 whitewash they received in India in 2008 still lingered in their minds. The 2011 Ashes loss to England had already begun to shake the Australian confidence, and they were coming into this series with a lot to prove. Under the captaincy of Michael Clarke, Australia was a team in transition, trying to reclaim some of their former dominance in world cricket. They were hungry to show they could compete in Indian conditions, a place where their record had been shaky in the past.

February 22, 2013 – Chennai

Australia won the toss on a turning pitch in Chennai and chose to bat first. The new-look opening pair got off to a solid start, putting on 64 runs for the first wicket. However, their optimism was short-lived as India’s evergreen spin sensation, Ravi Ashwin, struck with devastating effect. He ripped through the Australian batting line-up, taking all five wickets to reduce them to a precarious 5 for 153.

Captain Michael Clarke, along with Marcus Henriques, came to Australia’s rescue, building a crucial 151-run partnership that helped them finish their first innings with a respectable total of 380. Clarke played a pivotal role, scoring a vital 130 runs, while Henriques provided solid support with a well-made 68. Ravi Ashwin was the standout bowler for India, registering impressive figures of 7 for 103.

India found themselves in early trouble as openers Murali Vijay and Virender Sehwag were dismissed cheaply, leaving the team at a shaky 2 for 12. However, the innings was steadied by two crucial partnerships—first, a solid 93-run stand between Cheteshwar Pujara and Sachin Tendulkar, followed by a 91-run partnership between Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, which brought India back into the contest.

A Captain’s Calm Under Pressure:

MS Dhoni walked in to middle at number 5 when the scoreboard read 4 for 194. With the game hanging in the balance, Dhoni didn’t show any signs of panic. Where others might have been weighed down by the pressure, he seemed unshaken. The field was set, the bowlers were ready, and the crowd was tense, but Dhoni had one thing on his mind: fight.

Together with Kohli, Dhoni guided India past the 300-run mark with their positive approach. During this partnership, Kohli played one of his most mature Test innings, scoring a well-crafted 107. However, shortly after, India lost three quick wickets in the span of around 80 runs, putting their position under threat.

As wickets continued to fall at the other end, MS Dhoni took matters into his own hands, accelerating the run rate. Dhoni’s dominance only grew. Boundaries flowed from his bat as if he were playing in an entirely different gear. The Australians, once in control, were now on the back foot. Every delivery seemed to invite punishment. He formed a match-turning 138-run partnership with Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the ninth wicket.

The Border Gavaskar Trophy: MS Dhoni 224 in 1st Test, Chennai

Then came the moment the crowd had been waiting for. With a majestic cover drive, Dhoni reached his double century. By the time Dhoni’s innings finally ended at 224, India’s position had completely transformed. As Dhoni walked off the field, the stadium stood in unison, applauding not just the runs, but the courage, the leadership, and the unwavering determination he had shown. The innings remained one of the iconic innings in the history of The Border Gavaskar Trophy.

The match wasn’t over, but one thing was certain: when MS Dhoni walks to the crease, no challenge is too big, and no game is ever lost. The story of his 224 against Australia would forever be remembered as one of the greatest Test innings ever played.