Twitter Reactions: Virat Kohli's majestic ton and Dhoni-Karthik's calmness help India level the series
MS Dhoni smacked the trademark six in the final over before taking a single to win the game for the umpteenth time for India.
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Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik were the men for India as the visitors levelled the series in Adelaide. The 299-run chase was shepherded by the Indian captain, while it was their veteran and the finisher Dhoni along with the Nidahas Trophy hero Karthik who finished the game with some exceptional and calm batting. Australia tried their best by taking the game deep until the last over but even they knew that the master of the finishers was in the middle.
Dhoni and Karthik literally ran a lot even in the death overs to seal a brilliant win for India and take the series into the decider on Friday.
The chase began for India with their openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan playing sensibly. The latter was in the mood today as he ripped apart the new ball bowlers of the opposition by taking the attack to them. In no time, Dhawan crossed the 30-run mark only to throw it away off Jason Behrendorff. Rohit paced his innings nicely but even he couldn’t make it big today. He was holed out in the deep off Marcus Stoinis on 43 off 52 balls.
Virat Kohli, meanwhile, had got set and along with Ambati Rayudu, he took the team to a good position. But India’s number four didn’t look entirely comfortable during his stay at the crease and eventually lost his wicket to the part-time bowler Glenn Maxwell. At 160/3, MS Dhoni walked out to the middle with a half-century on his back and got off the blocks quickly.
He patiently took his time even as Kohli shifted gears smartly by smashing Behrendorff out of the park. The calculated risks paid off really well for the visitors’ skipper as he notched up his 39th century in the format. He looked tired though towards the end of his innings and even Kohli holed out at 104 to make things interesting.
Australia believed they were in the game until then but one man – MS Dhoni – was set. Dinesh Karthik joined him in the middle and both the finishers of India rode home their team with some extremely smart cricket. They didn’t get nervous despite the required run-rate going above nine runs an over. Dhoni, in the meantime, also smacked a six off Nathan Lyon while Karthik played some gutsy shots in the air.
Eventually, it was the Men in Blue who had the last laugh and Dhoni’s finishing skills once again came to the fore with Karthik also helping him superbly in the end.
Australia ride on Shaun Marsh’s ton
Earlier, it was Shaun Marsh who smashed an exceptional ton after Australia won the toss and opted to bat first. In the scorching heat, he put the Indian bowling to the submission and again showed his class in the limited-overs format. The hosts lost Aaron Finch and Alex Carey early once again and Marsh rebuilt the innings along with Usman Khawaja.
The latter, however, was caught short of the crease thanks to Ravindra Jadeja’s brilliance on the field. Peter Handscomb and Marcus Stoinis lent some great support then as Marsh added 52 and 55 runs respectively for the fourth and fifth wicket. Glenn Maxwell took the pressure off Marsh in the last 10 ten overs hunting the leather brutally. The debutant Mohammed Siraj was at the receiving end even as the left-hander got to his century.
Marsh then opened up his arms as well and Australia threatened to go past the 300-run mark. The duo added 94 runs in less than 11 overs and then came the mini-collapse. Bhuvneshwar Kumar varied his pace really well and ended up with four wickets and the last three overs witnessed India coming back. Australia finished the innings with 298 runs on the board for the loss of nine wickets which looked more than a decent total at the halfway mark.
Eventually, they had to combat the best finisher in the world who was back at his best and ended up unbeaten on 55 off 54 balls with Karthik on 25 off 14 deliveries.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
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) January 15, 2019
Well done Team India @BCCI congratulations @imVkohli yet again top inn and good to see old touch of @msdhoni coming to the party.That’s the way.. keep up the good work #IndiaVsAus
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) January 15, 2019
Old habits die hard #Dhoni #AUSvIND
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) January 15, 2019
Couldn't have scripted and executed the chase better. Phenomenal #AusvIndia
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) January 15, 2019
What a win by India🇮🇳 and what a century.Great knocks by @imvkohli and @msdhoni to make the series 1-1. #AUSvIND
— surya77 (@surya_14kumar) January 15, 2019
MSD polishes off yet another chase. 👏champion stuff. #INDvsAUS
— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) January 15, 2019
Vintage Dhoni #AusvIndia
— Shaun Tait (@shaun_tait32) 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
Fantastic win by team India. Last few overs bowled by Bhuvi and top batting by Kohli and Mahi does it for the team #INDvsAUS
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) 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
Love watching @imvkohli bat. He makes batting look super easy anywhere in the world. Keep it going Virat! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/fx780dsQrH
— VINOD KAMBLI (@vinodkambli349) January 15, 2019
This Virat bloke is not bad. 9 hundreds in 19 ODIs. Wow!!!!
— Nathan McCullum (@MccullumNathan) January 15, 2019
Another great 100 from the legend @imVkohli
One of the all time great players – congrats https://t.co/ncKK4FvCCz— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) January 15, 2019
Just the 9 Tons in his last 19 ODI innings for #Virat … !!!! #🐐
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 15, 2019
Winning a Test, ODI and T20I as Captain in Australia:
Ricky Ponting
Michael Clarke
Faf du Plessis
VIRAT KOHLI#AUSvIND— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) January 15, 2019
When MS Dhoni arrived at the crease, India were slight favourites with WinViz. As he has made a career of doing, he carried India from a strong position into a winning one – and to 1-1 in the series. #AUSvIND
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) January 15, 2019
MS Dhoni, the epitome of resilience! Another lovely innings in a successful chase. What a player. #AusvInd
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) January 15, 2019
Dhoni haters ko vanakkam.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) January 15, 2019
ENNA KOZHANDHAIGALA, INDHA AATTAM PODHUMA?! 😍 #Thala #AUSvIND #WhistlePodu 🦁💛
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) January 15, 2019
Rejoice all you #Dhoni haters! You have just got yourselves a long vacation till the World Cup! MSD has proved his worth, stamina, temperament and dependability in this crucial do-or-die game. #INDvsAUS
— G. S. Vivek (@GSV1980) January 15, 2019
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