Cricket World reacts as Hardik Pandya and MS Dhoni take India to a competitive position in the Chennai ODI

After a horrible start in the first ODI of the series against Australia, Team India ended up with a highly respectable total of 281 with the loss of seven wickets.

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, India got off to the worst possible start as they lost their top order within no time.

Australian pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile wrecked havoc as he ripped through the Indian top order picking up the wickets of Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli and Manish Pandey, the latter two who were dismissed for a duck.

With India struggling at 87-5, things were looking really bleak and it looked like the Men in Blue wouldn’t even reach 200. However, Hardik Pandya took matters into his own hands during the middle overs as he smashed Adam Zampa all around the park. He scored 83 off just 66 balls with five fours and five maximums.

WATCH: Hardik Pandya hits a four and 3 consecutive sixes off Adam Zampa

MS Dhoni played second fiddle during their 118 run partnership by picking up singles and giving the strike to Pandya.

However, it was vintage Dhoni towards the end of the innings as he ended up scoring 79 in 88 deliveries with four fours and two sixes to his name.

Cricketing world showered rich praise on Pandya and Dhoni for their innings.

"He's finished,plays too slow"often heard yet plays a vintage Dhoni inns.Always to the rescue,best of India #MSD #Respect
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) September 17, 2017

Hardik Pandya has made it a habit of playing the big impact innings. Seeing one currently. Amazing stuff! #INDvAUS
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) September 17, 2017

Posting 280 incredible effort from 11-3. Can't underestimate @msdhoni influence on India's middle order, @hardikpandya7 brilliant. #INDvAUS
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) September 17, 2017

Faulkner has got away with a few no-balls. Time to get the 3rd umpire involved with the front foot no-ball
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) September 17, 2017

Congratulations @msdhoni on your 100th International half century and aptly it happens in Chennai.#INDvAUS
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) September 17, 2017

Yet another 100 for @msdhoni! This time in front of the stumps! Congratulations on a century of 50s Mahi 👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/2yPf1wUnW7
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 17, 2017

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