So, this is an opportune time to examine Dhoni’s outcomes as a T20 player. While there is no doubt that Dhoni had all the ingredients to be an all-time T20 great, it did not quite work out that way. Instead, he went to become one of the greatest ODI batsman in history.
It is intriguing that while Dhoni has had a phenomenal IPL career, he has a very modest record in T20 Internationals.
Dhoni in IPL
In 131 innings for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL, Dhoni averages 41.97 at a strike rate of 140.71. His Actual Average (runs per innings) is 26.27. He has 18 fifties and his hit 242 boundaries and 156 sixes. This means he hits 1.84 boundaries and 1.19 sixes every innings.
No one except Raina has scored more runs for CSK than Dhoni (3442). No one except Albie Morkel has a better strike rate and only Michael Hussey has a slightly better average.
Dhoni captained CSK to the title in 2010, 2011 and 2018. They were runners-up in 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2015. He also took them to victory in the Champions League in 2010 and 2014 – making it the most successful IPL side not only in India but in the world.
Dhoni has been remarkably consistent in the IPL. In seven out of the 11 editions, he has averaged above 40 (he played two editions – 2016 and 2017 for Rising Pune SuperGiants). He peaked this year (2018) topping the IPL charts averaging 75.83. He has also scored at a rate of above 130 per hundred balls in seven editions.
But surprisingly, Dhoni has not replicated his success in domestic T20 cricket when he has represented India in the format.
Dhoni in T20Is
OVERALL RECORD:
Dhoni has scored 1487 runs at an average of 37.17 and strike rate of 127.09 from 80 T20I innings.
At first glance, it seems to be a decent record. But we need to dissect these numbers to get a clearer picture.
What immediately stands out is his lack of fifties when playing for India. Dhoni has batted at Number 5 and 6 in a majority 53 out of 80 innings and has often come out to bat with not many deliveries remaining in the innings – but still only two fifties in 80 innings – is a poor record. The lack of fifties are not only a function of the number of deliveries he has faced but also of his slow scoring rate.
Dhoni has 16 scores of 30 or more from 80 innings – which means he scores 30-plus every 5 innings when playing for India. This also means that in 64 innings he has scored below 30 – not good enough.
Dhoni’s average also gets a boost courtesy his 40 not outs in 80 innings. While it may be argued that Dhoni has put a price on his wicket, the fact that he hasn’t been able to score more runs or at a faster rate, makes that argument weak.
Dhoni’s Actual Average is only 18.58 (runs/innings) – almost 8 runs per innings less than his corresponding average in the IPL.
Dhoni has scored just 107 boundaries and 47 sixes in T20Is. This translates to 1.33 boundary per T20 inning and 0.59 six per match or 1.7 innings for every six.
Thus, there is a big contrast in his boundary and six-hitting prowess when he plays for CSK and when he plays for India.
In T20Is, Dhoni has been slow getting off the mark, played a large percentage of dot balls and then found it difficult to increase the tempo at the death.
Dhoni has batted at Number 5 and 6 for a majority of his T20I career – 53 innings. Let us compare him to other batsmen during his career who have primarily batted at Number 5 and 6.
COMPARISON AT 5 AND 6
There are 33 batsmen who have scored at least 300 runs in T20I cricket from Number 5 and 6 during Dhoni’s career (Dec 2006 to July 2018).
Dhoni’s Actual Average of 18.43 is the 23rd lowest on this list.
His Strike Rate of 119.29 is also amongst the lowest – only six batsmen have a worse scoring rate.
He is at number 21 when it comes to boundaries per innings (1.32).
His ability to hit sixes is the third-worst amongst these 33 batsmen – 29 sixes in 53 innings. Only Gary Wilson of Ireland and Peter Borren of Netherlands have fared worse on this count.
NOT A MATCH-WINNER FOR INDIA
Dhoni has not been the great match-winner for India in T20 cricket as he is in ODIs. Or as he was for CSK in the IPL.
He has crossed 25 in 21 out of 80 innings. But India has only won 8 such matches.
Thus it is not surprising that he has not won any Man of the Match Award in 80 innings for India.
Kohli, Rohit, Raina, Yuvraj and even Dhawan have been bigger match-winners with the bat for India during Dhoni’s career.
Whenever Kohli has crossed 25 (35 times), India has won 25 such matches. The corresponding number for Rohit is 24 (30), Raina 21(33), Yuvraj 14(18) and Dhawan 13(15).