Mahendra Singh Dhoni anchored India to their maiden bilateral ODI series triumph in Australia as the visitors scripted a perfect finish to a historic trip Down Under.
Virat Kohli’s team became the first country to return from Australia without losing a single series having won the Test series 2-1 and drawn the T20 Internationals 1-1.
Dhoni’s unbeaten 87 off 114 balls played a huge role in India’s win. But that only came after Yuzvendra Chahal had run through the Australian batting line-up to dismiss them for 230.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the series win:
India's series win sealed with a boundary!#AUSvIND | @MastercardAU pic.twitter.com/7Nqy8H47LB
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 18, 2019
Loved the way India was nonchalant after the win. Signs that they are setting themselves high standards. 👏👏👏🙏🙏#INDvsAUS
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) January 18, 2019
Virat Kohli in PC: "Personally I feel number five is the ideal batting spot for MS Dhoni and for the team as well. It allows him game time, attack when required and finish games off." #AusvInd
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) January 18, 2019
Impressive and yet another match winning knock from @msdhoni. Number 4 is the biggest positive from the series ahead of World Cup. Congratulations on such successful tour away from home @imVkohli @BCCI #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/v2g9yyXXpf
— R P Singh (@rpsingh) January 18, 2019
So @msdhoni finishes off yet another successful run chase. In other News - The Sky is Blue and the Sun rises in the east.
— Siddharth Kaul (@sidkaul22) January 18, 2019
GREATEST
FINISHER
EVER.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/G7EoTuJXJD
I repeat. Old habits die hard. Three 50s in a row + Man of the series. The man still has it in him #Dhoni #AUSvIND https://t.co/Y9S8L9Dgt3
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) January 18, 2019
That’s what you call ‘Timing a chase’ !! @msdhoni is one cool cucumber ... Great tension at the #MCG ... India are a fantastic cricket team ... #AUSvIND @FoxCricket
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 18, 2019
During Test series - Rohit suggested a slower ball to Bumrah & he nailed a wicket at a crucial juncture
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) January 18, 2019
During ODI series - Rohit suggested Dhoni should bat at no.4 & MSD compiled a nifty innings to seal the series#AUSvIND #INDvAUS #KingRo @ImRo45
MS Dhoni, successful chase no. 73. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/6OF1ti1OTY
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) January 18, 2019
At 37 years and 195 days: Ms Dhoni is the oldest Indian to get player-of-the-series award in ODIs
— Msd's Pradip (@PradipMsd7) January 18, 2019
Previous: Sunil Gavaskar (37y and 191d) vs Sri Lanka in 1987
#AusvInd
MS Dhoni has remained unbeaten 48 times in an ODI run-chase
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) January 18, 2019
India have won on 46 occasions
India have lost only once — v Pakistan at Kolkata in 2013
One game was a tie — v SL at Adelaide in 2012
Scored fifties in both these games
Truly a chase master @msdhoni #AUSvIND
MSDhoni now has 1971 runs in the 46 not out innings he has been at the crease to see India over the line, off 2138 balls, at 92.2 runs per 100 balls. #coolcustomer
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) January 18, 2019
MS Dhoni's 10 years challenge
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) January 18, 2019
At the end of 2009, his ODI average was 50.82. Right now it is 50.81. It is 0.01 less but we will take it. #10yearchallenge
Players part of most successful ODI run-chases:
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 18, 2019
127 - Sachin Tendulkar
112- MS Dhoni*
111 - Ricky Ponting#AUSvIND
Since 1999 India have lost the deciding match of a three match bilateral ODI series only once! #AUSvIND
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) January 18, 2019
India's successful run-chases without any of top three scoring 50+ (since Apr 2015)
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) January 18, 2019
127 v Zim, Harare, 2016
223 v Ban, Dubai, 2018
231 v Aus, MCG, 2019#AUSvIND
Yuzvendra Chahal's six ODI wickets in Melbourne today are the most ever by a spinner in Australia. #AUSvIND
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) January 18, 2019
Best ODI bowling performance by any bowler in Australia
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 18, 2019
6/42 Ajit Agarkar (MCG) 2004
6/42 Yuzvendra Chahal (MCG) 2019
6/43 Mitchell Starc (Brisbane) 2015#AusvInd#AusvsInd
Best bowling figures for India against Australia in ODIs:
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 18, 2019
6/27 – Murali Kartik, Mumbai, 2007
6/42 – Ajit Agarkar, MCG, 2004
6/42 - Yuzvendra Chahal, MCG, 2019*#AUSvIND
