Australia vs India 2018/19: Twitter erupts as Virat Kohli & MS Dhoni star in India's series-levelling win

India beat Australia by six wickets in the second ODI on Tuesday to level the three-match series 1-1.

India skipper Virat Kohli led from the front, scoring a fine ton as India got back to winning ways with an impressive win in Adelaide. Chasing 299, India were off to a good start with Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma adding 47 runs before the former departed. Rohit and Kohli then shared 54-runs for the second wicket. Marcus Stoinis broke the stand when he accounted for Rohit. However, Australia could not make more inroads in the game as two fifty-plus stands, first between Kohli and Ambati Rayudu and the second between the skipper and MS Dhoni – all but sealed the game in India’s favour.

Australia slim hopes revived when Kohli departed after scoring 112. However, Dhoni held firm from one end and took the team home along with Dinesh Karthik.

Earlier, century from Shaun Marsh helped Australia finish their innings on a challenging 298 for 9. Australia made a poor start with the bat and lost both their openers for just 26 runs on the board. Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave India the first breakthrough by castling Aaron Finch before Mohammed Shami sent back Alex Carey. However, the start was not the precursor of the things that were to follow as Australia’s middle-order stepped up to bail the hosts out of trouble.

Marsh and Usman Khawaja helped Australia recover from the early setbacks by adding 56 runs for the third wicket. Peter Handscomb, Australia’s top-scorer from the first ODI, put on 52 with Marsh for the fourth wicket before he was undone by a piece of sharp work from MS Dhoni. But it did not bring any respite for the visitors as Marsh went on to add fifty-plus stands with Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell en-route his fourth ODI ton in his last eight games.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was India’s most successful bowler, picking up 4 wickets while Mohammed Shami picked up three.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the game:

https://twitter.com/FarziCricketer/status/1085118682353659905

https://twitter.com/ya_jhakaas/status/1085120983223226368

Virat Kohli (10,291)* surpassed Tillakaratne Dilshan (10,290) and moves to number 11 in the position of most runs in Odi cricket. #AUSvIND

— Akhil Gupta ? (@Guptastats92) January 15, 2019

89th SIX for Rohit Sharma against Australia in International cricket; the most by any player against a single opposition.

Chris Gayle has hit 88 International sixes against England. #AUSvIND

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) January 15, 2019

That awkward moment when Dinesh Karthik and MS Dhoni are at the crease, but you are counting upon DK to bail you out. #AUSvIND

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) January 15, 2019

We saw the great Sir Viv/Sachin, we saw the destructive Lloyd/Adam Gilchrist/, we saw the finisher in Hussey/Bevan/Dhoni, but in terms of pure control/command of ODI batting,@imVkohli in league of his own! #INDvsAUS

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) January 15, 2019

Just the 9 Tons in his last 19 ODI innings for #Virat … !!!! #?

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 15, 2019

My mom to me: "If you write anything bad about Dhoni today, I will send a strongly-worded email to your editor" ?

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) 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

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

Win-Pongal! #AUSvIND#WhistlePodu ??

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) 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

MSD polishes off yet another chase. ?champion stuff. #INDvsAUS

— Ashwin ?? (@ashwinravi99) January 15, 2019