India vs Bangladesh Asia Cup Final: Sportsrush presente before you three records which MS Dhoni can break or equal tomorrow.
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Playing the final match tomorrow of his fifth Asia Cup tomorrow, former India captain and current wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni will walk out against Bangladesh in a bid to break a few personal milestones. Having played his first Asia Cup in 2008 in Pakistan, Dhoni was part of the tournament in 2010 (Sri Lanka), 2012 (Bangladesh) and 2016 (Bangladesh).
Having captained India in all these tournaments, he saw his team winning the tournament in 2010 and 2016 and finishing as the runners-up in 2008. Dhoni was ruled out of the tournament in 2014 with a side strain. For a player who will be completing a decade playing one tournament, records are bound to come.
Citing the same in mind and post digging into Dhoni’s numbers over the past years, we have shortlisted three records which Dhoni must be looking forward to break in the imminent match. It is necessary to mention that the 2016 edition of the tournament isn’t being taken into consideration because it was played in a T20I format. The records are:
1. Entering the Top Five highest run-scorers in Asia Cup – In the 18 matches that Dhoni has played in the Asia Cup, he has amassed 612 runs at an average of 68 and a strike rate of 91.07. If Dhoni scores 129 runs tomorrow, he will become the fifth-highest run-scorer in the Asia Cup.
Having scored 741 runs in 19 matches at an average of 57 and a strike rate of 82.79, former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga is currently at No. 5. Sanath Jayasuriya, who has scored 1,220 runs in 25 matches at an average of 53.04 and a strike rate of 102.52, tops the list.
At this point in time, Dhoni is at the 12th spot, only a run behind Virat Kohli, who is at No. 11.
2. Most dismissals by a wicket-keeper in Asia Cup – Dhoni’s increasing age has had no affect whatsoever on his skills as a wicket-keeper. The 37-year old still finds himself affecting praiseworthy stumping dismissals. In 18 Asia Cup matches, Dhoni has affected 34 dismissals (25 catches and nine stumpings).
Kumar Sangakkara, who has featured in five Asia Cups (2004-2014), has 36 dismissals (27 catches and nine stumpings) under his belt, most by a wicket-keeper. If Dhoni manages to affect a couple of dismissals tomorrow, he will top the list of most dismissals by a wicket-keeper in Asia Cup.
3. Highest Batting Average in Asia Cup – As mentioned above, Dhoni has a batting average of 68 in the Asia Cup. He is currently second in this list, behind Angelo Mathews (82.75). However, Dhoni has a chance to surpass the former Sri Lankan captain.
If Dhoni remains unbeaten on at least 133 (or more), he will take over Mathews at the No. 1 spot. That being said, if he gets out, the record seems a far-reaching possibility as Dhoni will have to score 216 runs in that scenario.
