It was like back to 2015, when Virat Kohli scored an anchoring hundred in a steep chase and MS Dhoni played the perfect finisher role by winning the match with his trademark six-hitting style in the final over.
Captain Kohli could not take his team to the finishing line but Dhoni (55 off 54) and Dinesh Karthik (25 off 14) rose to the occasion with an unbeaten 57-run stand off 34 balls, taking India home with four balls to spare. Australia scored 298-8 after opting to bat.
‘Man of the match’ Kohli was dismissed in the 44th over after making 104 off 112 balls with five fours and two sixes.
Dhoni, who has been coping a lot of criticism for his waning finishing skills, turned back the clock and took India to the finish line with a six on the first ball of the final over.
The veteran’s innings, laced with two sixes as the only boundaries, finished things off in style for India.
With the win in Adelaide, India has levelled the three-match series 1-1 with the decider to be played on Friday in Melbourne.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
A great win and a fabulous innings by . Yet another at his adopted home ground😉. Excellent role played by and to take India over the line.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt)
Picture abhi baaki hai mere Dost !
Wonderful innings from Virat. Dhoni and Karthik finishing it in style. Will need more matches with 4-5-6 playing handy match-winning knocks.— Virrender Sehwag (@virendersehwag)
does it yet again & in what style! What a fantastic knock from the captain , Congratulations for levelling the series.
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina)
Dhoni has shown his class here. Just understood the situation beautifully. And this is a tribute to his fitness
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
Fantastic run chase by India . Excellent 100 from Virat, he makes it look very easy. Was wonderful to see Dhoni finish of the game beautifully and Dinesh Karthik’s cameo was very very important in the end. The final game should be a cracker.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281)
Well done Team India congratulations yet again top inn and good to see old touch of coming to the party.That’s the way.. keep up the good work
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh)
Legends don't need to prove their worth to anyone. Great display of class and temperament by Mahi bhai and 👏👏👏
Congratulations on the win!😁— Jasprit Bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93)
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)
MS Dhoni, the epitome of resilience! Another lovely innings in a successful chase. What a player.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad)
//twitter.com/shaun_tait32/status/1085133549387145216
It’s amazing that in the last ODI game, that many people criticised and he got a rough LBW decision, now with and he finishes a great game. Dhoni is a freak. Been saying it for years.
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano)
Fantastic win by team India. Last few overs bowled by Bhuvi and top batting by Kohli and Mahi does it for the team
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)
🐐
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan)
//twitter.com/MccullumNathan/status/1085123837241356289
Love watching bat. He makes batting look super easy anywhere in the world. Keep it going Virat!
— Vinod Kambli (@vinodkambli349)
MSD polishes off yet another chase. 👏champion stuff.
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99)
What a win by India🇮🇳 and what a century.Great knocks by and to make the series 1-1.
— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar)
&; Co dish out pongal treat for home fans 👏👏👏😊
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah)
//twitter.com/hemangkbadani/status/1085134182521565184
Great display of batting by and to take 🇮🇳 across the winning line! Great stuff by Team India!
— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88)
Team India 🇮🇳 winning the 2nd ODI . @ getting his 39th hundred and setting up the game with n finishing of in style !! Well done the men in blue
— MithunManhas5 (@MithunManhas)
MS Dhoni fans to Haters now.
— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu)
Highest batting average in successful chases in ODIs (min.25 inns):
99.85 MS Dhoni
99.04 Virat Kohli
🙏🙏🙏— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket)
still smashing sixes and finishing chases! 🙌
— ICC (@ICC)
