CNN Central News & Networks / ITDC India ePress / ITDC News /Agencies/ Bhopal: Dhoni’s storming unbeaten 183 came on this day 21 years ago
New Delhi. In the history of Indian cricket, the date of October 31 is always remembered for Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s historic innings. On this day in 2005, Dhoni played an explosive unbeaten innings of 183 runs against Sri Lanka at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. He faced only 145 balls, hitting 15 fours and 10 sixes. His innings included a total of 25 fours and sixes. Significantly, his record for the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper-batter in men’s ODI cricket still stands.
Dhoni steadied the innings after Sachin’s early dismissal. Batting first, Sri Lanka scored 298 for four in the allotted 50 overs. Kumar Sangakkara made an unbeaten 138, while Mahela Jayawardene scored 71. India were set a target of 299 to win. The Indian team suffered an early blow in the chase when Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed for only two runs in the first over. Dhoni, who came in at No. 3, then carried the innings forward with Virender Sehwag. Sehwag scored 39 off 37 balls. Dhoni began cautiously, but later launched an aggressive assault on the Sri Lankan bowlers.
Dhoni remained unbeaten on 183 off 145 balls. He added 96 runs with Rahul Dravid, who made 28 off 34 balls. After that, Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni put on 65 runs for the fourth wicket. Yuvraj scored 18 off 24 balls. In the end, Venugopal Rao supported Dhoni with an unbeaten 19. India scored 303 for four in 46.1 overs and won the match by six wickets. Dhoni was named Man of the Match for his brilliant innings.
The world record for wicketkeeper-batters still stands. Dhoni’s 183-run innings at the time surpassed Australian Adam Gilchrist’s record of 172. Since then, several wicketkeeper-batters have made big scores, but no one has yet crossed the 183-run mark as a wicketkeeper in men’s ODIs. The International Cricket Council also counted this achievement among the historic records of Dhoni’s career while inducting him into its Hall of Fame in 2025. Dhoni’s innings was not just a major individual score, but also became a brilliant example of his ability to bat under pressure while chasing a target. Even 21 years later, the innings played in Jaipur remains fresh in the memories of Indian cricket fans.
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