South Africa vs India: Another milestone beckons for MS Dhoni in first T20I

Veteran Indian cricketer MS Dhoni is revered as one of the modern day greats. Dhoni is hailed as the best wicketkeeper-batsman of this generation and the stats justify this claim to a great extent. During the recently concluded ODI series against South Africa, Dhoni had reached the milestone number of 400 dismissals in the ODI format of the game. Team India sealed the ODI series 5-1.

Now, the action moves to the shortest format of the game. The two sides are set to lock horns in a 3-match T20I series. Interestingly, with the T20I set to be played, another big milestone is near for the former Indian captain. It is yet another feat which is very much likely to be added to his impressive wicket keeping shelf.

When MS Dhoni takes the field for the first T20I, he will have the chance to become the first wicketkeeper to pocket 50 catches in the shortest format of the game at the international level. Currently, Dhoni has 47 catches to his name i the format, and hence, is just 3 short of the remarkable achievement. It is worth noting that the first T20I will be played at the Wanderers, Johannesburg.

It is the very same venue where team India had lifted the ICC World T20 in the year 2007 under the leadership of MS Dhoni. Dhoni has very fond memories of the venue and it would be great if reaches the milestone number at this very venue.

A master keeper

For the numbers, MS Dhoni already leads the race of the wicketkeepers with most dismissals in T20Is. Dhoni has 76 dismissals to his name in 85 innings thus far. This includes 47 catches and 29 stumpings. The next best wicket-keeper in dismissals is Pakistan’s Kamran Akmal with 60 to his name.

Dhoni’s current tally of 47 catches is the highest among the wicketkeepers with most catches in T20Is. However, when it comes to stumpings, Dhoni is next to Akmal’s numbers of 32 stumpings. In this particular series, Dhoni will have the chance to surpass this feat as well.

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