India chased down Australia’s 299-run target to win the second one-day international by six wickets and level the series in Adelaide on Tuesday. Veteran MS Dhoni steered India to victory with an unbeaten 55, while skipper Virat Kohli hit 104.
“You look for little moments to pump you up and get in sync,” said Kohli about the Behrendorff over when he decided to go after the fast bowler.
That over changed the rhythm of the innings and the runs began to flow for India. But after Kohli was dismissed, the focus shifted to Dhoni, who had struggled in the first ODI.
He received a fair bit of criticism for that slow 51 but his response to the criticism was typical Dhoni, playing in a way only he can. Kohli couldn’t have been happier.
“There is no doubt that he should be part of this team. When you haven’t played cricket for a while, it takes some time to get going. It was an MS Classic. He takes the game to the end and only he knows what is going on his mind. MS was as composed as ever. He kept me calm as well when he thought I was getting too excited. Tonight was special for both of us,” Kohli said at the post-match ceremony.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the vintage win:
Most ODI hundreds since 2017:
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) January 15, 2019
13 Virat Kohli (in 42 innings)
12 Rohit Sharma (in 42 innings)
No one else has scored more than six!#AUSvIND
Most intl hundreds (all formats) by visiting batsmen to Aus:
— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09) January 15, 2019
11 - Virat Kohli
9 - David Gower
9 - Jack Hobbs
8 - Brian Lara
7 - Wally Hammond, Viv Richards, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar#AUSvIND
We saw the great Sir Viv/Sachin, we saw the destructive Lloyd/Adam Gilchrist/, we saw the finisher in Hussey/Bevan/Dhoni, but in terms of pure control/command of ODI batting,@imVkohli in league of his own! #INDvsAUS
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) January 15, 2019
Lovely cameo by Karthik. He now plays this role as well as anybody.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 15, 2019
Dhoni's SR is 101.85. Kohli's was 92.85. Just saying.
— Anant Rangaswami (@AnantRangaswami) January 15, 2019
Keep calm and keep kaam se kaam 🙌❤️ #DilSeDhoni
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) January 15, 2019
Dhoni hits detractors and skeptics for a 6! Tight match, fine win
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 15, 2019
India successfully chased down a target of 299 today
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 15, 2019
- Second highest at Adelaide in ODIs
- Second highest for India against Australia in Australia in ODIs#AUSvIND
MSD polishes off yet another chase. 👏champion stuff. #INDvsAUS
— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) January 15, 2019
It’s amazing that in the last ODI game, that many people criticised @msdhoni and he got a rough LBW decision, now with @imVkohli and @DineshKarthik he finishes a great game. Dhoni is a freak. Been saying it for years.
— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) January 15, 2019
Excellent reading of the game today by Dhoni. Karthik in the end made it easy for him but it was yet another Masterclass by Kohli that made the difference .
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) January 15, 2019
Kohli sets it up. Dhoni finishes it in style. Crucial runs from DK. Well done, 🇮🇳 #AusvInd https://t.co/EzR1tRSK4v
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 15, 2019
Highest batting average in successful chases in ODIs (min.25 inns):
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) January 15, 2019
99.85 MS Dhoni
99.04 Virat Kohli
🙏🙏🙏#AUSvIND
Dhoni finishes off Twitter in style
— Abhay (@ImAbhay3) January 15, 2019
Lol. Dhoni didn't even realise he completed his half century. It was DK who told him to raise his bat. Selflessness level Dhoni 💯 #AUSvsIND
— EniGmouS... (@itzjayx_) January 15, 2019
MS Dhoni - 55* off 54 balls. (S/R - 101.85)
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) January 15, 2019
This is the first time MS Dhoni had 90+ S/R in an ODI chase since the start of 2016 where he played more than 15 balls. #AUSvIND
Dhoni haters ko vanakkam.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) January 15, 2019