MS Dhoni, one of India’s most legendary cricketers, is known for his cool demeanor, lightning-fast stumpings, and game-changing finishes. Over his long and illustrious international career, Dhoni has faced some of the most fearsome bowlers in world cricket, from Australia’’’s fiery pace attack to South Africa’s deadly seamers and Sri Lanka’s mystery spinners.
Yet, when asked about the toughest bowler he has ever faced, the former Indian captain didn’t hesitate, it was Shoaib Akhtar, the Rawalpindi Express from Pakistan.
The former Indian skipper, MS Dhoni opened up in an interview with cricket.com.au, explaining why Akhtar stood out among the many top-class bowlers he faced.
“All the fast bowlers are quite difficult, with the limited technique I had, it was very difficult to face the fast bowlers,” Dhoni said.
“Still, if I had to pick one, I would pick Shoaib Akhtar. Very simple reason: he was quick, he was fast, he could bowl a yorker, he could bowl a bouncer but you never expected a beamer. He was a bit unpredictable (but) he was fun to play against,” he added.
Shoaib Akhtar, known for consistently bowling over 150 km/h and once clocking the fastest delivery in cricket history at 161.3 km/h, brought raw pace and hostility that few batters could comfortably manage. Dhoni’s choice makes complete sense — especially considering his admission of a “limited technique” in handling express pace.
Their On-Field Battles
Dhoni and Akhtar went head-to-head in 10 international matches, and the stats paint a competitive picture:
In ODIs, Akhtar bowled 39 balls to Dhoni, conceding 32 runs and dismissing him three times, an average of just 10.66.
In Tests, he bowled 83 deliveries, giving away 71 runs and getting Dhoni out once.
MS Dhoni is the only cricketer to have won three different ICC titles as a captain. Under his captaincy, India won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2007, ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2011 and ICC Champions Trophy 2013.
MS Dhoni retired from international cricket in late August 15, 2020. He announced his retirement on his official Instagram handle. The veteran has been actively playing in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings.