Mahi knocks on the door of two one-day records

While the 4th ODI between India and Sri Lanka on Thursday will have no impact on the outcome of the series, it is bound to be a special occasion for former India captain M.S. Dhoni. The wicketkeeper-batsman will be playing in his 300th ODI match when Virat Kohli's men turn up at Colombo's R Premadasa Stadium.

In 299 ODIs so far, Dhoni has accumulated 9608 runs with 65 fifties and 10 hundreds. The right-hander has not just led India to a World Cup win in 2011, but also set several records during his ODI career.

On Thursday, Mahi could set two new records --- one with the bat and the other with his gloves. Ahead of the second ODI against Sri Lanka, Dhoni had 98 stumping to his name, one behind Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara. He equalled the Sri Lankan at 99 when he claimed the scalp of Danushka Gunathilaka off leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. With two ODIs remaining, Dhoni needs just one stumping to become the first wicketkeeper in ODI history to reach the three-figure mark.

Dhoni has now 72 not outs on his ODI resume, on level with Shaun Pollock and Chaminda Vaas for the most ODI not outs. Another unbeaten innings will help Dhoni achieve the maximum not outs in ODI cricket.

Dhoni has played two crucial knocks in the series already. He and Bhuvneshwar Kumar anchored India's chase in the 2nd ODI after a stunning batting collapse as the visitors edged past Sri Lanka by three wickets. Dhoni, who scored 45, then put on an unbeaten 100-run stand with Kumar, who made 53, to steer the team home in 44.2 overs and take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

The former India captain followed this up with another sterling knock in the 3rd ODI. The visitors rode on an unbeaten 157-run fifth-wicket stand between Rohit Sharma and Dhoni, who made 67, to clinch the series.

Apart from delivering with the bat when it mattered, Dhoni has been consistent with his glovework behind the stumps.

The jury may still be out on whether Dhoni should be a part of 2019 ICC cricket World Cup squad but former India cricketer Virender Sehwag strongly feels that the Indian team is “yet to find suitable replacement” for the iconic wicketkeeper-batsman. “I don't think anyone can replace Dhoni at this point of time,” he said.