This game was set up mainly by Chahal. His double-strike in the very first over hurt Australia badly and the hosts kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Handscomb held one end tight to ensure they got a decent total on the board. India lost Rohit early in the chase and then a set Dhawan later. Kohli looked in control alongside MSD, but the pressure of a few dots at the other end probably got to him and he edged Australia’s best bowler to the keeper.
Kohli is elated as the teams do the customary handshake. He pumps his fists. Couldn’t finish it with the bat tonight, but he had the master taking full control. At a stage in this game when Dhoni was eating dot balls for fun, many eyebrows were raised that he is playing too slowly and putting pressure on the team. But Dhoni knew what this was all about. He was never bothered despite playing out five successive dots in the 44th over with the asking rate above eight. In his mind, he had things sorted as to which bowler to target and when. Like he does always, took the game deep, respected the good bowlers and took on Siddle and Stoinis to an extent to deliver the final punch.
