India continue to remain winless despite Kohli, Dhawan heroics
India capitulated shamelessly losing the last 9 wickets for 46 runs to give Australia a 25-run victory in the fourth ODI, here today after outstanding centuries by Shikhar Dhawan (126) and Virat Kohli (106).
Chasing a substantial 349 for their first win in the series, the visitors were given a great start by Rohit Sharma, who hit a breezy 41 off 25 balls before Dhawan and Kohli set up a rollicking partnership of 212 runs for the second wicket off 177 balls to take the team to 277 without any further loss when Dhawan fell to mark a long procession of Indian batsman returning to the pavilion.
Losing the match by 25 runs, India trail the five-match series 0-4 and Dhoni was expectedly disappointed.
“I am not angry, I’m disappointed. This was one game we should have batted much better. I’ll take responsibility, I should have carried on but I got out…There was a bit of pressure on the youngsters. International cricket is all about pressure, you think about the right shot. You realise you have to take a bit more time and take the game slightly to the end,” Dhoni said in the post-match presentation.
Dhawan (126) and Kohli (106) stitched together a 212-run second-wicket stand to put the hosts on the backfoot before Kane Richardson’s five-wicket haul flattened the Indian chase.
Dhoni not only praised the batting duo, but also defended the inexperienced Indian bowling attack.
“Rohit batted very well with Shikhar. And Dhawan and Kohli batted majestically. In the last five years, we have not had a fixed bowling line-up other than the spinners. That pushes us to the extreme to get some extra runs,” said Dhoni.
