Indian cricket icons Mahendra Singh Dhoniand Yuvraj Singh are celebrated for their exceptional impact on the game. Each brought unique strengths to India’s cricketing success, with Dhoni known for his finishing abilities and wicketkeeping, and Yuvraj for his explosive batting and reliable part-time bowling. In this article, we’ll analyze their batting and bowling performances across four main formats: T20 Internationals (IT20), One Day Internationals (ODI), Indian Premier League (IPL), and Test cricket. This comparison provides insight into how these two legends contributed to their team’s victories.
Batting Performance: Dhoni vs Yuvraj Stats in Each Format
Here’s a format-by-format breakdown of Dhoni and Yuvraj’s batting stats:
Format
Player
Matches
Innings
Runs
Highest Score
Average
Balls Played
Strike Rate
200s
100s
50s
Ducks
Fours
Sixes
Catches
Stumpings
Not Outs
IT20
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
97
85
1617
56
37.60
1282
126.13
0
0
2
3
116
52
57
34
42
Yuvraj Singh
57
51
1177
77
28.02
863
136.38
0
0
8
1
77
74
12
0
9
ODI
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
342
294
10599
183
50.23
12164
87.13
0
9
73
10
809
222
310
125
83
Yuvraj Singh
244
230
7452
150
38.02
8563
87.02
0
14
43
16
780
139
72
0
34
IPL
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
262
229
5242
84
39.11
3812
137.51
0
0
24
8
363
251
153
42
95
Yuvraj Singh
131
126
2751
83
24.78
2120
129.76
0
0
13
4
217
149
32
0
15
TEST
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
164
144
4876
224
38.09
8249
59.11
1
5
33
11
544
78
476
73
16
Yuvraj Singh
71
62
1900
169
33.92
3277
57.97
0
3
11
7
260
22
61
0
6
Key Insights:
T20 Internationals: Dhoni’s average (37.60) reflects consistency as a finisher, while Yuvraj’s superior strike rate (136.38) highlights his aggressive style.
One Day Internationals: Dhoni’s impressive average (50.23) reveals his role as a dependable middle-order player, while Yuvraj’s average (38.02) complements his role as a power hitter.
IPL: Dhoni leads with both average (39.11) and strike rate (137.51), underscoring his value as a finisher in the franchise format.
Test Matches: Dhoni’s Test career was marked by consistency and a high score of 224, while Yuvraj had fewer opportunities in the format.
Bowling Performance: Dhoni vs Yuvraj Stats in Each Format
Though Dhoni was primarily a wicketkeeper and rarely bowled, Yuvraj was often used as a part-time bowler in limited-overs formats. Here’s a comparison of their bowling stats:
Format
Player
Matches
Innings
Wickets
Best Bowling
Average
Economy
Strike Rate
4W
5W
Overs
Runs
IT20
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
97
1
1
–
41.00
10.25
24.0
0
0
4
41
Yuvraj Singh
57
31
28
–
17.82
7.52
15.1
0
0
70.4
499
ODI
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
343
5
5
–
38.20
5.30
43.2
0
0
36
191
Yuvraj Singh
239
129
92
–
38.00
5.33
44.4
2
1
681.2
3496
IPL
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
263
0
0
–
–
–
–
0
0
0
0
Yuvraj Singh
132
73
36
–
29.91
7.97
24.1
2
0
144.5
1077
TEST
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
97
8
0
–
–
3.55
–
0
0
36
128
Yuvraj Singh
62
34
9
–
60.55
3.63
102.7
0
0
154.1
545
Key Insights:
T20 Internationals: Yuvraj was a more frequent bowler, taking 28 wickets with an impressive average of 17.82.
ODIs: With 92 wickets, Yuvraj added depth to India’s bowling lineup, while Dhoni’s bowling contributions were rare.
IPL and Tests: Yuvraj contributed 36 wickets in the IPL, but in Test cricket, his role was limited, while Dhoni did not bowl in either format.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh complemented each other well on the field. Dhoni’s finishing ability and exceptional wicketkeeping were invaluable to the team, while Yuvraj’s powerful batting and part-time bowling made him a flexible asset in limited-overs formats. Together, they played a pivotal role in some of India’s most memorable victories, and their legacies continue to inspire fans and players around the world.
