India v Australia 2013: Dhoni sparkles while Johnson sizzles in 3rd ODI

The beauty of the young Indian batting line-up lies in the ability of each and every one in the top six to win matches on their own. Yuvraj Singh announced his comeback with an amazing T20 innings; Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma played match-winning innings as India made the second highest successful run chase. Only Mahendra Singh Dhoni was left.

The captain chose the best occasion. The famed line-up lost their four wickets inside thirteen overs for a paltry 76 runs. He nearly pulled his hamstring running his first run. That didn’t hamper his batting or his running as he smashed his first hundred batting at number six.

He started off his innings watchfully with consistent Kohli for company. The pair put on their fifth fifty run partnership - Dhoni scoring 29 off 47 balls. Kohli notched up his fourth consecutive ODI fifty. The part time spin of Maxwell broke the partnership. His attempted drive through the off resulting in an edge to the keeper. As soon as Ravindra Jadeja came in, George Bailey brought in Mitchell Johnson. Johnson’s pace and bounce was too much for Jadeja who fended a bouncer to Haddin. That’s was Johnson’s third wicket of the match.

18 overs was left for Dhoni with four lower order batsmen for company. He was at 39 off 64 balls at that time. Then he scored 100 off 57 balls. He reached his fifty off his 77^th ball. A six and four off the last two balls of Xavier Doherty’s over started Dhoni’s belligerent hitting in the last ten. His understanding of the game and his own style is impeccable. He waited, delaying the charge, taking calculative risks. No one was spared as he launched his assault. Even his helicopter landed perfectly – beyond the ropes.

India scored 101 runs in the last ten overs. Dhoni scored 79 of those. When Dhoni is on song, the bowlers run out of ideas, the fielders fumbles even the easy catches, and the spectators get thrilled. The only blemish – a lofted stroke that was dropped by Bailey. An amazing innings – watchful beggining, consolidated middle, and mad hitting at the end! Dhoni reaffirmed his greatness as a great ODI batsman. The innings overshadowed Johnson’s heroics earlier in the day.

Dhawan’s edge off Clint Mckay brought Virat Kohli to the crease after only 12 balls been bowled. He started off in typical Kohli fashion – respecting good deliveries, nudging singles, punishing loose deliveries, easing the pressure off his partner and spectators. The start of his innings was characterized with Kohli’s charming crisp drives through the off.

Rohit Sharma perished to a short ball that bounced little more than he thought. Mitchell Johnson documented Suresh Raina’s woes against the short pitched deliveries. With 2015 scheduled in Australia, Raina should find a way to repose the faith shown on him by his captain. At the moment, he doesn’t have a shot for the balls aimed for his throat. He doesn’t leave the ball cleanly or have a pull shot to deal with a vicious bouncer.

His demons were apparent in his feet movement against Johnson. He moved forward with decisive feet movement while facing others. But while facing Johnson, he hangs on his back foot assuming every ball to be short one. His ungainly waft ended his misery. By the end of the series, we will know the result of the Number four experiment.