MS Dhoni is back and how! There was no other man who had faced so much criticism as he had coming into the ODI series but when the hurly burly is done, Dhoni won India the battle.
Following half-centuries in Sydney and Adelaide, Dhoni guided India to victory in Melbourne with an unbeaten 87. Kedar Jadhav played an invaluable knock of 61 and finished the match with a boundary in the 50th over.
Dhoni took full advantage of his two drop catches, the first of which came when he was yet to get off the mark. Dhoni then went on to stitch an important partnership with Virat Kohli and then was joined by Jadhav who stayed with the former captain till the end in a partnership of over 100 runs. Dhoni's unbeaten innings took his average in successful run-chases to almost 104.
Dhoni, who was awarded the man of the series award, was asked about batting at number 4 today and he said that it did not matter the position in which he bats. He went on to add that it is about winning games for his country.
Earlier in the day, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal picked up 6 wickets and was adjudged man of the match for his efforts. With the ODI series victory, India created history by not losing a single series in Australia.
The visitors won the Test and ODI series following the 1-1 stalemate in the T20Is. Here's how social media reacted.
When u see Dhoni finishing match in style and u are searching haters on twitter..#Dhoni#Kohli #IndiaVsAus pic.twitter.com/rEwGUP3xZO
— Abhishek (@abhi3627) January 15, 2019
To #Dhoni haters. #AUSvIND
— Sir K L RAHUL (@SirKLRahul) January 18, 2019
???????. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/jtzeeck9uI
#AusvInd
— DR. GILL (@ikpsgill1) January 18, 2019
Dhoni in 2019 is like pic.twitter.com/KWEtBrEcOK
Age 37
— Forum Keralam (FK) (@Forumkeralam1) January 18, 2019
Calls to retire
Goes to Australia and comes back with the Man of the Series Trophy@msdhoni for you pic.twitter.com/PWvkM1JOr8
Maahi Maarr Raha hai!??#AUSvIND
— Khushi? (@modernlegacyy) January 18, 2019
Dhoni to his haters #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/fyUf3dBPK7
— Rishabh Srivastava (@AskRishabh) January 18, 2019
It's fitting that Jadhav Scored the winning runs & Dhoni stayed unbeaten.This is historic #AUSvIND
— Nidin Jacob (@ImNidin) January 18, 2019
India clinched the series the 3 ODI series against Australia.
— Aanand admires SRK (@aanandsg) January 18, 2019
Great temperament by @msdhoni & @JadhavKedar #Dhoni proved it once again. #AUSvIND
After Dhoni's Innings in Aus ODI Series#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/L9K93lwx2Z
— Neeraj Khanna (@Urboyneeraj) January 18, 2019
#Dhoni
— A.R.Saravanan (@sr_twitz) January 18, 2019
Haters right now ??
The king of finishing #AUSvIND
Continues Fifty pic.twitter.com/suaXjp8dUH
#AusvInd never in doubt pic.twitter.com/EMtHTLl7Vg
— Tim Allan (@TimboAllan) January 18, 2019
Just another masterclass on chasing by MS. Completely outclassed by @BCCI for the whole summer. Not even sure we understand how T20 and 50 over game are played by the best teams atm #AUSvIND. Certainly watched enough of India if we r smart enough to learn
— Jack - Yes (@jax_pad) January 18, 2019
So, the two batsmen whose strike rates were continuously questioned in recent times have powered India to Test & ODI series wins in Australia on this tour.
— Ameya Tilak (@ameyatilak) January 18, 2019
Well played, Cheteshwar Pujara & MS Dhoni. Strike rate eh! #MSDhoni #Dhoni #CheteshwarPujara #TeamIndia #AUSvIND #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/g1cs9HNe69
Mahendra Singh Dhoni haters' new profession to earn money
— Tweetilicious (@tweetilishius) January 18, 2019
#AusvInd #3rdODI pic.twitter.com/i8CdTQdAM6
Dhoni to everyone now!#AUSvIND #INDvAUS #dhoni #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/WXOv2GtJv2
— Tamanna (@Tam_Mahi) January 18, 2019
He was, he is and will always be the greatest finisher.#AUSvIND #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/ZWVKw0X9ce
— Prateeeeeek (@jainyyyy45) January 18, 2019
#Dhoni
— A.R.Saravanan (@sr_twitz) January 18, 2019
Haters right now ??
The king of finishing #AUSvIND
Continues Fifty pic.twitter.com/suaXjp8dUH