In a match where the Indian top-order folded like a pack of cards, MS Dhoni’s gritty 71 stood as a beacon of defiance against the English tide
When India entered Old Trafford for the fourth Test of the 2014 series, they were already on fragile ground. The momentum had shifted in favour of England after Southampton’s win, and with the series tied 1-1, this match was vital. What happened next, however, was a collapse—sharp, swift, and devastating.
But amidst the ruins of that innings defeat stood one man, shoulders squared, gloves clenched—MS Dhoni. His first innings with the bat wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t easy. But it mattered. It gave India something to cling to—if not in the result, then in spirit.
England batted first and scored 367, thanks to half-centuries from Ian Bell (58), Joe Root (77), and Jos Buttler (70). It wasn’t an unbeatable total, but it was sufficient—because India’s reply, to put it mildly, fell apart.
In just over five overs, India’s innings collapsed to 8 for 4. Gambhir, Vijay, Pujara, Kohli—all dismissed. Broad and Anderson dominated. The slip cordon had little time to react between catches. The crowd at Old Trafford, always lively, found its voice early.
Rahane showed a brief fight with 24, but the top and middle order had crumbled under unrelenting pressure. Then came Dhoni.
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The scoreboard read 63 for 6 when he lost Jadeja. It was freezing, the ball was doing plenty, and Broad had his tail up with 6 for 25.
But Dhoni didn’t flinch. He didn’t deflect deliveries or pursue shots outside off. He played tight. He played late. And importantly, he played intelligently. In his 133-ball innings, he hit 15 fours, most of them in the V or behind square. It wasn’t a rescue act, but a display of resilience.
While wickets fell at the other end—Ashwin chipped in with 40, the only other semblance of support—Dhoni kept the innings from turning into a complete disaster.
India eventually scored 152 in the first innings. They were still 215 behind, but without Dhoni’s 71, it could have been one of India’s lowest totals on English soil.
England didn’t enforce the follow-on. They batted again and declared at 320/4, setting India a mammoth 408 to chase. The second innings wasn’t a comeback — it was a repeat.
Moeen Ali ran through the middle order with 4 for 39, and once again, Dhoni tried to play his shots, scoring a brisk 27 off 22. But this time, the fortress he tried to build had no scaffolding. Ashwin remained unbeaten on 46, but India folded for 161. The defeat was by an innings and 54 runs. Brutal. Unrelenting. But telling.
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Dhoni’s 71 will never be remembered as a legendary overseas innings. It didn’t alter the result or make headlines. But in a Test that India would rather forget, it served as a reminder of one player’s refusal to surrender.
While others faltered chasing shadows or played for the crowd, Dhoni remained present in the moment. His innings was a brief resistance against the collapse, a solitary stone wall in a crumbling fort. It exemplified Test cricket at its most resilient.
