Old video of Dhoni's gesture for Kohli goes viral after Hardik denies Tilak chance to hit 50

Indian captain Hardik Pandya finished things off after Suryakumar Yadav played a whirlwind knock of 83 in 44 balls as India won the third T20I by seven wickets in Guyana. When the star all-rounder hit a six off Rovman Powell in the 18th over to win the match, Tilak Varma was left stranded on 49 at the non-striker's end.

Fans reminisced about the time when MS Dhoni had blocked out the last ball to give Virat Kohli the chance to finish a match back in 2014.

When MS Dhoni let Virat Kohli lay the finishing touch 📹

Revisit the sweet gesture by captain Dhoni from the 2014 T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/EKcWsCh9r1

— ICC (@ICC) December 23, 2020

With just two runs left to win in 14 balls, Hardik deposited a half-volley from his opposite number beyond long-off. This denied Tilak a second consecutive half-century. However, that doesn't undermine the value of the southpaw's knock as he played second fiddle to perfection to allow the flamboyant Suryakumar Yadav to play his natural game.

Hardik, however, garnered criticism from a section of fans for not allowing Tilak to score his fifty. They brought up an incident during the second semifinal of the 2014 T20 World Cup where MS Dhoni defended the last ball of the 19th over to allow Kohli to hit the winning runs against South Africa in Dhaka. The Delhi batter didn't take long as he finished the match off the first ball from Dale Steyn in the 20th over. Kohli remained unbeaten on 72 off 44 balls with the help of five fours and two sixes.

MS Dhoni's gesture towards his young teammate was lauded by cricket enthusiasts back in the day. Fans couldn't help but remember that moment after Hardik's last ball six off Rovman.

Teams travel to the USA for last two T20Is

India and West Indies will make a trip to the USA to play the final couple of T20Is in the five-match series that is currently poised at 2-1 in favour of Rovman Powell and Co. The fourth T20I will be played in Lauderhill, Florida on Saturday, August 12, while the final game will be played at the same venue on the following day.

Last year in August, India comprehensively defeated the West Indies in the two T20Is played in Lauderhill, Florida, to win the five-match series 4-1. A similar result this time would help the 'Men in Blue' secure one of their finest series wins in the shortest format of the game.