If we talk about the best wicketkeeper-batsmen in cricket history, there is no one better than MS Dhoni. MS Dhoni is known for his calmness, finishing, and leadership qualities in the game of cricket. He was one of India’s all-time great players across formats.
As a cricket fan, you must have come across one question often: how many centuries MS Dhoni scored.
This article will provide you with the complete information on MS Dhoni’s centuries, his ODI centuries, Test centuries, and international cricket centuries, along with milestone innings, statistics & records.
MS Dhoni Total Centuries Overview
MS Dhoni scored a total of 16 international centuries during his career.
| Format | Matches | Innings | Centuries |
| Test Cricket | 90 | 144 | 6 |
| ODI Cricket | 350 | 297 | 10 |
| T20I Cricket | 98 | 85 | 0 |
| Total | 538 | 526 | 16 |
Despite playing more than 500 international matches, Dhoni was never known as a traditional century-maker. Instead, he specialized in finishing games, building partnerships, and guiding India to victories under pressure.
MS Dhoni ODI Centuries
Dhoni scored 10 centuries in One Day Internationals, making him one of the most successful wicketkeeper-batsmen in ODI history.
MS Dhoni ODI Century List
| No. | Score | Opponent | Venue | Year |
| 1 | 148 | Pakistan | Visakhapatnam | 2005 |
| 2 | 183* | Sri Lanka | Jaipur | 2005 |
| 3 | 139* | Africa XI | Chennai | 2007 |
| 4 | 109* | Hong Kong | Karachi | 2008 |
| 5 | 124 | Australia | Nagpur | 2009 |
| 6 | 107 | Sri Lanka | Nagpur | 2009 |
| 7 | 101* | Bangladesh | Mirpur | 2010 |
| 8 | 113* | Pakistan | Chennai | 2012 |
| 9 | 139* | Australia | Mohali | 2013 |
| 10 | 134 | England | Cuttack | 2017 |
Total ODI Centuries: 10
MS Dhoni’s Highest ODI Score
183* vs Sri Lanka (Jaipur, 2005)
Dhoni’s highest ODI score remains the iconic 183 not out against Sri Lanka.
| Statistic | Value |
| Runs | 183* |
| Balls | 145 |
| Fours | 15 |
| Sixes | 10 |
| Strike Rate | 126.20 |
| Venue | Jaipur |
| Year | 2005 |
This innings remains one of the greatest ODI knocks ever played by a wicketkeeper-batsman. Chasing 299, Dhoni promoted himself to No. 3 and demolished the Sri Lankan bowling attack.
The innings announced his arrival as a future superstar of world cricket.
MS Dhoni Test Centuries
Dhoni scored 6 centuries in Test cricket.
Complete List of MS Dhoni Test Centuries
| No. | Score | Opponent | Venue | Year |
| 1 | 148 | Pakistan | Faisalabad | 2006 |
| 2 | 110 | Pakistan | Lahore | 2006 |
| 3 | 123 | Pakistan | Chennai | 2008 |
| 4 | 100* | West Indies | Mumbai | 2011 |
| 5 | 144 | West Indies | Kolkata | 2011 |
| 6 | 224 | Australia | Chennai | 2013 |
Total Test Centuries: 6
MS Dhoni’s Highest Test Score
224 vs Australia (Chennai, 2013)
The highest score of Dhoni’s Test career came against Australia in Chennai.
| Statistic | Value |
| Runs | 224 |
| Balls | 265 |
| Fours | 24 |
| Sixes | 6 |
| Venue | Chennai |
| Year | 2013 |
This double century remains one of the finest innings played by an Indian wicketkeeper in Test cricket.
His innings helped India post a massive first-innings total and eventually win the match comfortably.
MS Dhoni Centuries by Format
The following table shows the distribution of Dhoni’s centuries across formats.
| Format | Centuries | Highest Score |
| ODI | 10 | 183* |
| Test | 6 | 224 |
| T20I | 0 | 56 |
| International Total | 16 | 224 |
Dhoni never scored a T20 International century despite playing 98 matches. His role in the shortest format focused more on finishing innings and accelerating in the final overs rather than batting for long periods.
MS Dhoni Century Record by Opponent
| Opponent | Centuries |
| Pakistan | 5 |
| Sri Lanka | 3 |
| Australia | 2 |
| West Indies | 2 |
| Bangladesh | 1 |
| England | 1 |
| Hong Kong | 1 |
| Africa XI | 1 |
Pakistan was Dhoni’s favorite opponent when it came to scoring centuries.
Several of his most memorable innings came against Pakistan in both Tests and ODIs.
Year-Wise Century Breakdown
| Year | Centuries |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
Dhoni’s centuries were spread throughout his career rather than concentrated in a single phase.
MS Dhoni as a Wicketkeeper-Batsman
Dhoni revolutionized the role of the wicketkeeper-batsman in Indian cricket.
Key Career Numbers
| Statistic | Record |
| International Matches | 538 |
| International Runs | 17,266 |
| International Centuries | 16 |
| ODI Runs | 10,773 |
| Test Runs | 4,876 |
| T20I Runs | 1,617 |
| Dismissals as Wicketkeeper | 829 |
His ability to contribute both behind the stumps and with the bat made him one of the most valuable cricketers in history.
Memorable Centuries of MS Dhoni
148 vs Pakistan (2005)
It was Dhoni’s first-ever international hundred. His aggressive batting style caught the attention of all Western pundits during his explosive knock at Visakhapatnam, marking his entry into the world stage.
183* vs Sri Lanka (2005)
Dhoni’s unbeaten 183, one of the highest scores by a wicketkeeper in ODI history, ranks among his best-ever ODI innings.
148 vs Pakistan (Faisalabad, 2006)
He showed that he was good enough in his first Test century to perform excellently in the longest format too.
224 vs Australia (2013)
This double century was a masterclass of patience and aggression as India ruled Australia in the Chennai Test.
134 vs England (2017)
That century, one of Dhoni’s last with India, was reassuring evidence that he could still conjure match-winning innings in his final days as an international player.
Why Did Dhoni Score Relatively Few Centuries?
One look at the number of tons scored by legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli or Ricky Ponting and Dhoni has a rather low number.
There are several reasons:
Lower Batting Position
Dhoni has frequently batted at the No 5,6 or 7 position, which decreases the number of balls faced by him.
Finisher’s Role
His job was to end matches, not add individual accomplishments.
Team-First Approach
He often remained not out in successful chases, caring more about winning the match than himself.
Wicketkeeping Workload
The physical load of keeping for 50 overs before having to bat under pressure is another one.
MS Dhoni’s Centuries in Winning Causes
A remarkable aspect of Dhoni’s centuries is that many came in victories.
| Format | Centuries in Wins |
| ODI | 8+ |
| Test | Several Match-Defining Innings |
His centuries often translated directly into team success, highlighting his impact as a match-winner.
Comparison with Other Indian Wicketkeeper-Batsmen
| Player | International Centuries |
| MS Dhoni | 16 |
| Rishabh Pant | 8+ |
| KL Rahul (WK role included) | 17+ |
| Syed Kirmani | 2 |
| Farokh Engineer | 2 |
For many years, Dhoni held the record for the most international centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper.
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Major Achievements Beyond Centuries
While centuries are important, Dhoni’s greatness extends far beyond this statistic.
ICC Trophies Won as Captain
| Tournament | Year |
| ICC T20 World Cup | 2007 |
| ICC Cricket World Cup | 2011 |
| ICC Champions Trophy | 2013 |
He remains the only captain in cricket history to win all three major ICC white-ball tournaments.
Other Career Highlights
- Over 17,000 international runs.
- Highest ODI score of 183* by an Indian wicketkeeper.
- The most successful Indian wicketkeeper in international cricket.
- Led India to the No. 1 Test ranking.
- One of the greatest finishers in cricket history.
- Captained India in more than 300 international matches.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many centuries did MS Dhoni score in international cricket?
MS Dhoni scored 16 international centuries, including 10 in ODIs and 6 in Tests.
2. How many ODI centuries does MS Dhoni have?
Dhoni scored 10 ODI centuries during his international career.
3. Did MS Dhoni score a T20I century?
No, MS Dhoni never scored a century in T20 International cricket.
4. What is MS Dhoni’s highest ODI score?
His highest ODI score is 183 not out against Sri Lanka in Jaipur in 2005.
5. What is MS Dhoni’s highest Test score?
His highest Test score is 224 against Australia in Chennai in 2013.
6. Against which team did Dhoni score the most centuries?
Dhoni scored the most international centuries against Pakistan, registering five hundreds.
Conclusion
The 16 international hundreds by MS Dhoni may not seem anything too special as compared to some other batting giants, but only numbers do not define his greatness. But he was a team player first, and individual records were not his style. Whether, his 183* against Sri Lanka, his massive 224 against Australia or numerous not-outs while chasing targets, Dhoni constantly came out and played when India required it the most.
It is a legacy constructed over the years not solely of stuff but of captaincy, match-winning innings, and also continuing composure under pressure. All this even years after retirement from international cricket, is why MS Dhoni still reigns in the memories of millions as one of the greatest influencers the game has ever seen.
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