MS Dhoni, known as the “Master Finisher,” has earned his legendary status through his outstanding cricket achievements.
The 42-year-old is as highly regarded in cricket as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are in football. He has a huge fan following, and the crowd often chants “Dhoni, Dhoni” when he’s on the field. This shows just how influential he has been in cricket.
Dhoni has been a key player for India, leading the team to victory in many tournaments. He is considered one of the best captains the Indian cricket team has ever had. Under his leadership, India won the T20 World Cup in 2007, the 2011 Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy. While many current captains struggle to win even one ICC trophy, Dhoni has won them all, thanks to his ability to lead from the front and deliver in crucial moments.
But Dhoni’s greatness isn’t limited to international cricket. He has also made a huge impact in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
As the captain of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Dhoni has been exceptional. He has led the team to five IPL titles. Although he’s known for his leadership, Dhoni has also contributed a lot with the bat. This article looks at MS dhoni runs in IPL.
MS Dhoni’s IPL Career Stats
Season
Matches
Runs
Highest Score
Average
Strike Rate
100
50
4s
6s
Career
253
5119
84*
39.08
136.32
0
24
353
242
2024
3
37
37*
–
231.25
0
0
4
3
2023
16
104
32*
26.00
182.46
0
0
3
10
2022
14
232
50*
33.14
123.40
0
1
21
10
2021
16
114
18*
16.28
106.54
0
0
12
3
2020
14
200
47*
25.00
116.27
0
0
16
7
2019
15
416
84*
83.20
134.62
0
3
22
23
2018
16
455
79*
75.83
150.66
0
3
24
30
Even though Dhoni has often batted lower in the order, he is still regarded as one of the best batsmen in IPL history. Known as the game’s greatest finisher, he has won several matches for his team, often from difficult situations.
Dhoni’s ability to finish an innings under pressure has been one of his defining traits. He has shown this repeatedly when his team has lost early wickets, calmly rescuing them with his batting.
Over 17 seasons in the IPL, Dhoni has played for two teams: the Chennai Super Kings and the Rising Pune Super Giants (for two years when CSK was banned). His contributions to the league are massive.
Dhoni is one of the few players to have scored over 5,000 runs in the IPL. In 253 matches, he has accumulated 5,119 runs at an average of 39 and a strike rate of 136.32. He has also scored 24 half-centuries.
Dhoni’s Best and Worst IPL Seasons
Dhoni’s best IPL season was in 2013 when he scored 461 runs at an average of about 42, including four half-centuries. He took CSK to the final that year and scored an unbeaten 63 in the match, though his team didn’t win.
On the flip side, 2021 and 2023 were his weakest seasons with the bat, where he managed only 114 and 104 runs, respectively. However, these low scores didn’t hurt CSK, as the team won the title in both years.
Dhoni’s Death Over Stats in IPL
Batter
Teams
Runs in Death Overs
Innings
Strike Rate
Sixes
MS Dhoni
CSK, RPSG
2632
161
187.33
162
Kieron Pollard
MI
1708
117
181.50
127
AB de Villiers
DC, RCB
1421
75
232.56
112
Dhoni has dominated the final overs of IPL matches. With 2,632 runs at a strike rate of over 162, no other player has had as much impact in the last few overs as Dhoni. His performance in these crucial moments is why he’s known as the “Master Finisher.”
