VIDEO | Dinesh Karthik 'forces' MS Dhoni to celebrate half century in Adelaide

India was chasing a big target of 299 runs in 50 overs against the Aussies and they were already 1-0 down in the three-match series. Virat Kohli and Dhoni stitched together 82 runs for the fourth wicket and the hundred by the Indian skipper had put them at a good position in the run chase. But, the fans were sceptical about Dhoni’s current ODI form as he had played 96 balls to score only 51 during the run chase in the previous game.

However, the wicketkeeper, who started off slowly during the initial passage in the middle, paced his innings really well towards the end and with Dinesh Karthik scoring runs at a good rate at the other end, India needed seven runs in the final over with Dhoni on strike. 

Jason Behrendorff had the ball with him for the all-important final over. Dhoni was tired after running a lot during the innings but as always he looked cool in the middle. Behrendorff tried to vary the pace and bowled a slower one just outside the off-stump. Dhoni picked up early and launched it over long on for a six. Though he didn’t get the connection right but got enough on that to send it packing over the ropes for half a dozen. Dhoni by this had already got to his 68th ODI fifty but there was no celebration from him. Karthik had to walk up to him to congratulate and then force him to raise his bat to acknowledge the applause. 

Dhoni and Karthik then finished the game off for the Indians when the former skipper ran hard for a single and ensured a six-wicket win for the Indians. 

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