Gavaskar compares Dhoni's knock to his 2011 WC Final innings

While speaking to NDTV after the match, Gavaskar pointed out the similarities between the two knocks as India had lost a couple of wickets and the captain took the responsibility of coming up the order and playing a match-winning innings.

“Yes. The intent was there, just like in the finals. Knowing that Murali was bowling and that he picked him well since they played for the same IPL franchise at the time, so he had got used to his style of bowling. He took the responsibility upon him and eventually proved that move was right," the 67-year-old told NDTV.

“Today also he realized that India could not afford to lose to New Zealand because it would have been very tough to come back. He knew that his experience was what was needed out in the middle."

"Manish Pandey is a very fine player, make no mistake about it. I think he, Kedar Jadhav are some of India’s fine young players. But think he realized that Manish can get carried away at that stage and if another wicket falls, then there could a little bit of tension."

The "original little master" also praised the genius of Virat Kohli, who scored an unbeaten 154 (134), claiming that the 27-year-old's mind works like a computer in the sense that he knows exactly what he is supposed to do at a given moment of time.

Gavaskar also commended Kohli's style of play stating that the latter never plays "crude" shots and that's why he is loved by the purists.

“His mind is like a computer. He knows exactly where the fielders, where he can hit the ball away from the fielder,” Gavaskar said.

“What pleases everybody and particularly me is that there are no crude shots that he plays in the run-chase. You see him play all cricketing shots. There is no crude slogging, no shots that would make a purist cringe. I think that is the beauty about his batting,”

Gavaskar, who had claimed that Dhoni lacked match practice before the series had kicked off, claimed that he felt sorry for the Indian captain on missing out on his hundred but praised the 151-run partnership between the duo.

"Their partnership was so good. The way they were running between the wickets as well. The understanding when they came at the end of the over and I felt sorry when he got out for 80 because he deserved a 100 as well,” Gavaskar concluded.