MS Dhoni's greatness as an ODI batsman in figures

During his incredible unbeaten 113 against Pakistan at Chennai, MS Dhoni went past 7,000 runs in ODIs. Abhishek Mukherjee compares him with the giants of the 50-over format of the game.

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Mahendra Singh Dhoni played what was arguably his most important innings in One-Day Interntionals at Chennai on Sunday. His unconquered 113 to rescued India from the depths of despair - 29 for five - to a total that gave the Indian bowlers some hope against arch-rivals Pakistan. This, however, has not been the first time that Dhoni has played a sublime innings to save his side. He also went past the 7,000 run mark in ODIs during the course of his epic knock.

Indeed, amidst all the disputes regarding whether he should be retained as the national skipper, Dhoni has been one of the giants of the game himself. Let us draw up some numbers to show how he features against the other greats of the 50-over version.

MS Dhoni’s entire career

To begin with, if we put a 7,000-run cut-off, Dhoni leads the way, averaging more than six runs per innings than Michael Clarke, the next name on the list:

Averages

Player	M	R	HS	Ave	SR	100s
MS Dhoni	212	7021	183*	52.00	88.5	8
Michael Clarke	221	7278	130	45.48	78.4	7
Jacques Kallis	321	11498	139	45.26	73.0	17
Sachin Tendulkar	463	18426	200*	44.83	86.2	49
Ricky Ponting	375	13704	164	42.03	80.4	30

 

However, when we consider ODIs, the other parameter that needs to be considered is the strike rate. Here, too, Dhoni features among the top five. It should be noted that none of the batsmen above him on the list comes within 15 runs of Dhoni in terms of batting average: 

Strike rates

Player	M	R	HS	Ave	SR	100s
Shahid Afridi	349	7075	124	23.34	113.8	6
Virender Sehwag	250	8242	219	35.07	104.5	15
Adam Gilchrist	287	9619	172	35.89	96.9	16
Sanath Jayasuriya	445	13430	189	32.36	91.2	28
MS Dhoni	212	7021	183*	52.00	88.5	8

 

We can, of course, combine the two parameters to obtain a combined number. We will use a harmonic mean to combine them:

Formula = 2 / (1/Average) + (1/Strike rate). 

Formula:

Player	M	Runs	HS	Ave	SR	100s	Formula
MS Dhoni	212	7021	183*	52.00	88.5	8	65.5
Sachin Tendulkar	463	18426	200*	44.83	86.2	49	59.0
Michael Clarke	221	7278	130	45.48	78.4	7	57.6
Jacques Kallis	321	11498	139	45.26	73.0	17	55.9
Ricky Ponting	375	13704	164	42.03	80.4	30	55.2

 

MS Dhoni as captain

However criticised Dhoni’s captaincy might have been in recent times, it cannot be argued that his performances as a captain are next to none in the 50-over format. Once again, we can see a 15-run per innings lead over the next batsman on the list, Ricky Ponting, if we put a 3,000-run cut-off:

Averages

Player	M	R	HS	Ave	SR	100s
MS Dhoni	128	4544	124	57.51	84.7	5
Ricky Ponting	230	8497	164	42.91	83.4	22
Mohammad Azharuddin	174	5239	153*	39.39	78.5	4
Graeme Smith	150	5416	141	38.96	83.1	8
Viv Richards	105	3105	181	38.81	92.1	3

 

In terms of strike rates, too, Dhoni is third on the all-time list. Two giants of the game come ahead of him, but both of them are almost 19 runs short of Dhoni in terms of batting average: 

Strike rates 

Player	M	R	HS	Ave	SR	100s
Viv Richards	105	3105	181	38.81	92.1	3
Sanath Jayasuriya	118	4377	189	38.73	88.1	10
MS Dhoni	128	4544	124	57.51	84.7	5
Brian Lara	125	3725	156	35.81	84.0	5
Ricky Ponting	230	8497	164	42.91	83.4	22

 

Once again we will try to combine the two numbers, and once again we will find that Dhoni has a significant lead on the next cluster of batsmen:

Player	M	Runs	HS	Ave	SR	100	Formula
MS Dhoni	128	4544	124	57.51	84.7	5	68.5
Ricky Ponting	230	8497	164	42.91	83.4	22	56.7
Viv Richards	105	3105	181	38.81	92.1	3	54.6
Sanath Jayasuriya	118	4377	189	38.73	88.1	10	53.8
Graeme Smith	150	5416	141	38.96	83.1	8	53.0

 

MS Dhoni as wicket-keeper

ODIs have changed the role of the wicket-keeper significantly over the past quarter of a century or so. Some of them have opened the batting, while some others have played crucial roles down the order. With a 3,000-run cut-off, Dhoni is once again way clear of his next competitor, Kumar Sangakkara:

Averages

Player	M	R	HS	Ave	SR	100s
MS Dhoni	212	7021	183*	52.00	88.5	8
Kumar Sangakkara	293	10022	138*	40.24	76.9	12
Adam Gilchrist	282	9410	172	35.64	96.9	16
Andy Flower	186	5845	145	34.58	73.7	4
Alec Stewart	138	4017	116	33.47	70.1	4

 
Despite the fact that Dhoni has had to play a pivotal role in India’s ODI successes, he has been able to maintain a healthy strike rate. The explosive Adam Gilchrist leads the way, but he averages significantly less than Dhoni, who is right up there with the best:

Strike rates

Player	M	R	HS	Ave	SR	100s
Adam Gilchrist	282	9410	172	35.64	96.9	16
Brendon McCullum	178	3858	131	30.37	89.4	3
MS Dhoni	212	7021	183*	52.00	88.5	8
Mark Boucher	294	4680	147*	28.71	84.9	1
Moin Khan	211	3100	72*	22.96	82.5	0

 

As usual, if we combine the two parameters, Dhoni stays clear of the Gilchrist, the second man on the list:

Formula:

Player	M	Runs	HS	Ave	SR	100s	Formula
MS Dhoni	212	7,021	183*	52.00	88.5	8	65.5
Kumar Sangakkara	293	10,022	138*	40.24	76.9	12	52.8
Adam Gilchrist	282	9,410	172	35.64	96.9	16	52.1
Andy Flower	186	5,845	145	34.58	73.7	4	47.1
Brendon McCullum	178	3,858	131	30.37	89.4	3	45.3

 

MS Dhoni in wins

Dhoni has also played a pivotal role in India’s ODI success stories, culminating in a World Cup victory last year. His performances have put him 10 runs ahead of another great match-winner in the history of ODIs – Michael Bevan: 

Averages

Player	M	R	HS	Ave	SR	100s
MS Dhoni	119	4,441	183*	76.56	97.7	6
Michael Bevan	155	4,502	107	65.24	75.7	5
Brian Lara	139	6,553	169	61.82	86.3	16
Viv Richards	132	5,129	189*	56.98	93.0	11
Sachin Tendulkar	234	11,157	200*	56.63	90.3	33

 
Along with a healthy average, Dhoni has also maintained a healthy strike-rate in victories. Other than him, the four batsmen in the top five are all blasters, and their averages are nowhere remotely close to Dhoni’s:

Strike rates:

Player	M	R	HS	Ave	SR	100s
Shahid Afridi	195	4599	124	29.67	118.8	5
Virender Sehwag	133	5748	219	46.35	109.5	14
Adam Gilchrist	202	7657	172	41.16	99.3	16
MS Dhoni	119	4441	183*	76.56	97.7	6
Andrew Symonds	152	4240	156	47.64	96.9	6

 
 
Once again, if the lists are combined, the bridge between Dhoni and the rest is quite substantial:
 
Formula:

Player	M	Runs	HS	Ave	SR	100s	Formula
MS Dhoni	119	4441	183*	76.56	97.7	6	85.9
Brian Lara	139	6553	169	61.82	86.3	16	72.0
Viv Richards	132	5129	189*	56.98	93.0	11	70.7
Michael Bevan	155	4502	107	65.24	75.7	5	70.1
Sachin Tendulkar	234	11157	200*	56.63	90.3	33	69.6

 

MS Dhoni in successful chases

In spite of Dhoni’s supremacy in all the lists, what really separates Dhoni from the rest are his performances in successful chases. If we put a 2,000-run cut-off, Dhoni is so ahead of the rest in the world that the gap is almost Bradmanesque: the others are not even comparable: 

Averages:

Player	M	R	HS	Ave	SR	100s
MS Dhoni	66	2028	183*	101.40	89.7	2
Arjuna Ranatunga	62	2007	131*	69.20	81.8	1
Brian Lara	83	3498	153	68.58	83.2	7
Mohammad Yousuf	64	2177	108*	65.96	67.0	2
Inzamam-ul-Haq	96	2778	118*	63.13	77.5	3

 

Even though most of Dhoni’s efforts in successful chases have involved hard-fought recoveries from tight corners and even shepherding the tail, he has managed to make it to the elite list; and despite the fact that he just misses out being in the top five, he is significantly ahead in terms of the others above him on the list:

Strike rates:

Player	M	R	HS	Ave	SR	100s
Virender Sehwag	73	2664	126	40.98	106.0	6
Adam Gilchrist	95	3750	131	46.87	102.8	8
Sanath Jayasuriya	107	3633	152	39.92	97.0	9
Chris Gayle	56	2744	133*	60.97	90.9	7
Sachin Tendulkar	127	5490	134	55.45	90.1	14
MS Dhoni	66	2028	183*	101.40	89.7	2

 
As usual, if the lists are combined, he has such a significant margin ahead of the others that they seem almost pale when put into perspective:

Formula:

Player	M	Runs	HS	Ave	SR	100s	Formula
MS Dhoni	66	2028	183*	101.40	89.7	2	95.2
Brian Lara	83	3498	153	68.58	83.2	7	75.2
Arjuna Ranatunga	62	2007	131*	69.20	81.8	1	75.0
Chris Gayle	56	2744	133*	60.97	90.9	7	73.0
Saeed Anwar	61	2837	131	63.04	83.6	9	71.9

However, in case of a harmonic mean, we add numbers with the same denominator (number of runs scored), which is more comprehensible and is likely to provide a more accurate measure of the greatness of the batsman.
 
(A hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobiac by his own admission, Abhishek Mukherjee is a statistical analyst based in Kolkata, India. He typically looks upon life as a journey involving two components – cricket and literature – not necessarily as disjoint elements. A passionate follower of the history of the game with an insatiable appetite for trivia and anecdotes, he has also a rather steady love affair with the incredible assortment of numbers the sport has to offer. He also thinks he can bowl decent leg-breaks and googlies in street cricket, and blogs at http://ovshake.blogspot.in.)