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Former India captains MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are two of the biggest batting superstars the game of cricket has seen in the last two decades. Both have created and broken a number of records during their illustrious careers. While Dhoni retired from international cricket in 2020, Kohli is still going strong.
Dhoni's best performances came in the one-day format, in which he led the Men in Blue to victory in the 2011 World Cup at home and the 2013 Champions Trophy in England. Having said that, he had a decent Test career as well. In 90 matches for India in the red-ball format, the keeper-batter notched up 4,876 runs at an average of 38.09, with six hundreds and 33 fifties.
On the other hand, Kohli has 8,947 runs from 115 Tests at an average of 48.89, with 29 hundreds and 30 fifties. The Dhoni-Kohli duo featured in a few memorable stands in the red-ball format for India. We pick three of the best.
#3 122 vs New Zealand in Bengaluru - September 2012
Dhoni and Kohli added 122 runs for the sixth wicket in India's first innings against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore in September 2012. Batting first, the Kiwis posted a competitive 365 on the board. In reply, India were trouble at 80-4, but Kohli (103) lifted the hosts with help from Suresh Raina (55) and Dhoni (62).
After Kohli and Raina added 99 for the fifth wicket, Kohli and Dhoni featured in a crucial sixth-wicket stand of 122 to take India past the 300-run mark. Kohli hit 14 fours and a six in his 284-minute stay at the crease before being trapped leg-before by Tim Southee. On the other hand, the keeper-batter struck eight fours and two sixes in his half-century, which came off 94 balls.
Thanks to the sixth-wicket stand, India recovered to post 353 on the board. Ravichandran Ashwin then picked up five wickets as New Zealand were bowled out for 248 in their second innings. Chasing a target of 261 to win the Bengaluru Test, India got home of another crucial alliance between Kohli (51*) and Dhoni (48*). The duo added an unbroken 96 for the sixth wicket.
#2 198 vs England in Nagpur - December 2012
Kohli and Dhoni added 198 runs for fifth wicket against England in Nagpur in December 2012. The duo featured in the big stand in the first innings of the fourth Test which ended in a draw, resulting in a famous 2-1 series win for England.
England batted first in the Test and put up 330 on the board. In response, India lost Virender Sehwag, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir with only 71 runs on the board. Kohli and Dhoni then lifted the hosts with a big partnership for fifth wicket.
Kohli contributed 103 off 295 balls, hitting 11 fours in his 356-minute stay, before he was trapped leg-before by Graeme Swann. Dhoni was unlucky to miss out on three figures. He was run out on 99, caught short of his crease by a direct hit from Alastair Cook at mid-off. The keeper-batter hit eight fours and a six in his knock.
India declared their first innings on 326-9. England, however, made 352-4 declared in their second innings as Jonathan Trott hit 143, while Ian Bell remained unbeaten on 116. With the Test ending in a draw, England registered their first Test series win in India since 1984-85.
#1 128 vs Australia in Chennai - February 2013
Kohli and Dhoni added 128 for the fifth wicket in India's first innings against Australia during a Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai in February 2013. This was the first match of the four-game series. India won the Chepauk Test by eight wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Batting first after winning the toss, the Aussies put up 380 on the board, with skipper Michael Clarke scoring 130. India responded with 572 as Dhoni registered his career-best Test score of 224, while Kohli contributed a defiant 107 off 206 balls. Dhoni joined Kohli out in the middle with the score reading 196-4 after Tendulkar was dismissed for 81.
The Indian keeper-batter faced only 265 balls for his 224, smashing 24 fours and six sixes in a memorable knock. On the other hand, Kohli hit 15 fours and a six in his 266-minute stay at the crease. The partnership took India past 320. Later in the innings, Bhuvneshwar Kumar also chipped in with 38.
Ashwin then claimed a five-fer as Australia were bowled out for 241 in their second innings despite Moises Henriques' unbeaten 81. Needing only 50 runs to win the Test match, India got home with eight wickets in hand.
