Watch - MS Dhoni’s sweet gesture to Virat Kohli in 2014 ICC World T20 semi-final revisited

MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli were the pillars upon which Indian cricket team’s dominance was established in the last decade. While Virat Kohli became the ultimate chase master in history, MS Dhoni became one of the greatest captains and a finisher par excellence. The duo have been involved in many memorable partnerships that have taken India over the line in several contests. When MS Dhoni was the captain, he had apparently saved Virat Kohli’s career during the turbulent tour of Australia in 2011/12 after India were whitewashed 4-0. That set the stage for the combination of Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni to do wonders on the cricket field.

Recently, the International Cricket Counil (ICC) shared a video in which they showed a video of Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni’s partnership in the semi-final of the 2014 ICC World T20 against South Africa in Mirpur. In the 90-second video, Virat Kohli pulls a short ball from Beuran Hendricks to the deep midwicket fence and the scores are level. MS Dhoni, renowned as the ultimate finisher, had the chance to once again show his magic. However, to everyone’s surprise, MS Dhoni blocked the last ball to the leg side and gave an opportunity to Virat Kohli to finish the game. MS Dhoni then gestured to a flummoxed Virat Kohli to finish the game.

When MS Dhoni let Virat Kohli lay the finishing touch

Revisit the sweet gesture by captain Dhoni from the 2014 T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa pic.twitter.com/EKcWsCh9r1

— ICC (@ICC) December 23, 2020

Virat Kohli then whipped Dale Steyn to the boundary and roared in delight as India made the final of the ICC World T20 where they would face Sri Lanka. This throwback video brought back a lot of nostalgia from the MS Dhoni fans.

India’s heartbreak in 2014 World T20

India started the ICC World T20 2014 campaign on a high with wins over West Indies, Bangladesh, Australia and Pakistan. In the semi-final, R Ashwin took 3/22 but South Africa were boosted by a fine 58 from Faf du Plessis while JP Duminy hit 45 off 40 balls to help the Proteas reach 172/4. In response, Virat Kohli sjhared a 56-run stand with Yuvraj Singh as India stormed into the final.

However, a splendid bowling effort from Sri Lanka in the death overs thwarted India despite another magnificent fifty from Virat Kohli. Yuvraj Singh struggled for his 21-ball 11 and Kumar Sangakkara hit a fifty to give Sri Lanka their first World T20 title.