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 @imVkohli. Yet another at his adopted home ground😉. Excellent role played by @msdhoni and @DineshKarthik to take India over the line. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/7n3M2l3hZS
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 15, 2019
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. pic.twitter.com/YHdwJ0G59X— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) January 15, 2019
@msdhoni does it yet again & in what style! What a fantastic knock from the captain @imVkohli , Congratulations #TeamIndia for levelling the series. #INDvsAUS @BCCI #Dhoni pic.twitter.com/ThFcGvLM6A
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) January 15, 2019
Dhoni has shown his class here. Just understood the situation beautifully. And this is a tribute to his fitness
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 15, 2019
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
Legends don't need to prove their worth to anyone. Great display of class and temperament by Mahi bhai @msdhoni and @imVkohli 👏👏👏
Congratulations on the win!😁#AUSvIND— Jasprit Bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) January 15, 2019
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) 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
https://twitter.com/shaun_tait32/status/1085133549387145216
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 AM (@ProfDeano) 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
🐐 #Virat
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 15, 2019
https://twitter.com/MccullumNathan/status/1085123837241356289
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
MSD polishes off yet another chase. 👏champion stuff. #INDvsAUS
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) 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
— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) January 15, 2019
@imVkohli @msdhoni & Co dish out pongal treat for home fans 👏👏👏😊
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 15, 2019
Old habits die hard #Dhoni #AUSvIND
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) January 15, 2019
Great display of batting by @imVkohli and @msdhoni to take 🇮🇳 across the winning line! Great stuff by Team India!#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/7Ezz2xt90I
— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) January 15, 2019
Team India 🇮🇳 winning the 2nd ODI . @@imVkohli getting his 39th hundred and setting up the game with @msdhoni n @DineshKarthik finishing of in style !! Well done the men in blue #AUSvsIND
— Mithun Manhas (@MithunManhas) January 15, 2019
MS Dhoni fans to Haters now. #Dhoni #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/gdkDX8gVsn
— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) January 15, 2019
Highest batting average in successful chases in ODIs (min.25 inns):
99.85 MS Dhoni
99.04 Virat Kohli
🙏🙏🙏#AUSvIND— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) January 15, 2019
#2009vs2019@msdhoni still smashing sixes and finishing chases! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/fv0wvz3rnS
— ICC (@ICC) January 15, 2019
