MS Dhoni equals Sanga’s record for stumpings

MS Dhoni equalled the record for most stumpings in One-day Internationals on Thursday by claiming his 99th victim in the second game against Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. 

Dhoni, 36, equalled the record held by Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara. MS Dhoni, playing in his 298th ODI, had Sri Lanka opener Danushka Gunathilaka stumped off the bowling of leg-spinner Yuzhvendra Chahal in the 14th over of the Sri Lankan innings.

The left-handed batsman was beaten by the dipping delivery as he went forward. The ball bounced off Dhoni’s body but he was alert to collect it and effect a simple stumping with Gunathilaka stranded.

Dhoni’s highest number of stumpings against an opponent is 21 against Sri Lanka, followed by 16 against England and 12 against Australia and West Indies.

In terms of total dismissals via catches and stumpings, Dhoni is behind Sangakkara’s 482 (383 catches and 99 stumpings) and Adam Gilchrist’s 472 (417 catches and 55 stumpings).

In addition to his 99 stumpings, Dhoni has taken 278 catches in ODIs as well.

The former India skipper, who led the national team to triumph in the 2007 World T20 and the 2011 World Cup, is aiming to play in his fourth World Cup, to be staged in 2019 in England and Wales. (Hindustan Times)