New Delhi:
MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav blasted fifties as India created history by winning the Melbourne ODI by seven wickets and winning a bilateral series for the first time Down Under. Dhoni's third consecutive fifty and Jadhav's fourth fifty resulted in a 100-run stand for the fourth wicket and India became the second team after South Africa to win a series in all formats in Australia. Earlier, Virat Kohli chose to bowl in the deciding game. Bhuvneshwar Kumar got the early breakthroughs by getting the openers out cheaply. Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh tried to stitch a solid stand but Yuzvendra Chahal got both Marsh and Khawaja in quick succession. Peter Handscomb got his third fifty but the rest of the bowling fell to the guile of Chahal, who took career-best figures of 6/42, the best-ever by a spinner in Australia . (SCORECARD)
That is all from us here. Join us on January 23 for the series against New Zealand. That, I can assure you, will be far more competitive.
Virat Kohli: Kedar with bat and ball is always handy. Chahal bowled really well. It's been an amazing tour for us. We drew the T20 series, won the Test and the ODI series. We are feeling confident and balanced as a side with the World Cup in mind
Aaron Finch, Australia skipper: Our batting in the first couple of games was very good. Maybe we should have set our targets lower on those sort of pitches.
MS Dhoni is the Man of the Series. He says, "No point going after the bowlers who were bowling well, so we wanted to take it deep and that was the plan. Kedar did a great job in executing"
Yuzvendra Chahal is the Man of the Match for his haul of 6/42. Chahal says, " I enjoyed bowling for the first time in Australia (internationals). The ball was spinning a little bit, so I planned to bowl slow and vary my pace."
MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav! Take a bow. Jadhav launches a full ball over long on and India have sealed history. They become the second team after South Africa to win a series in all formats Down Under. If 2008 under Dhoni was special, then the Test and ODI series victories in 2018/19 are simply historic and mind-boggling. Congratulations, Virat Kohli and team.
MS Dhoni, you fabulous legend. He blasts a four down the ground and Kedar Jadhav also gets a boundary. Scores are tied now.
The partnership between Jadhav and Dhoni has reached 100. The stage is set now for an epic finish. India need 14 off 12 balls. Jadhav hits his fourth fifty
Third umpire is called in for a run-out against Kedar Jadhav. Dhoni blasted a full ball outside off but Aaron Finch spilled the chance.
Jhye Richardson has finished his spell and India need 27 off 18 balls. Now will be the right time for Dhoni to finish his spell as Siddle does not have many variations. Stoinis and Siddle to finish it off. Or will they risk Maxwell?
Nine runs in the over bowled by Peter Siddle. India are still in the hunt and Kedar Jadhav is nearing fifty.
Six runs off just one ball and India have regained the advantage. Kedar Jadhav is playing a blinder.
MS Dhoni gets a crucial boundary off Stoinis but India still need 44 off 30. They need one big over. Stoinis will bowl two but who will bowl the remaining overs?
Only one run in the final over bowled by Adam Zampa. He finishes with figures of 10-034-0 but India need 52 off 36 balls. Dhoni is just waiting for the moment to unleash.
MS Dhoni survives a review as there is an appeal for an LBW. The ball was going over the stumps and Australia have lost their only review. This could be crucial.
Patrick Farhart is attending to MS Dhoni as he is experiencing some discomfort in the groin area. India need 60 off 54 balls. The last thing India need is for Dhoni to retire hurt.
Brilliant from MS Dhoni. Hits his 70th fifty and third in this series. Until he is there, India have a great chance of creating history.
Australia are bowling well to MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav. However, unless the former India skipper is there, they will not rest easily. On a sluggish pitch, a low score is shaping up to be a thriller.
The boundaries have dried up and Dhoni seems to be getting bogged down. Australia are slowly applying the pressure. Maybe, it was a right move to send Kedar Jadhav ahead of Dinesh Karthik.
GONE! Massive wicket. This is the one Australia wanted. Full ball from Jhye Richardson outside off, Kohli plays away from the body and pokes at it and the edge is taken by Alex Carey.
Oh boy! This is very interesting. Dhoni sashays down the track to Jhye Richardson and misses the slog. No Australian appealed for a catch. Big mistake as Hotspot showed an inside edge. That would have been so much interesting. Dhoni has a reputation of being a walker but in this case, no spirit of the game, folks. All is fair in a game of cricket.
Dhoni and Kohli's partnership has gone past fifty. This is great batting from the duo.
MS Dhoni is once again guiding India and blunting the Australian attack? Is criticism of him still valid. Here is a flashback
Dhoni smashes a boundary straight down the ground and the MCG has found it's voice all over again. Brilliant batting. India need these two to get them over the line.
Kohli survives a direct run-out chance as he continues to make solid progress. Australia are unable to dislodge King Kohli and India will be praying that he can guide them over the line in a chase.
WICKET! Shikhar Dhawan looks to drive a full ball but Stoinis shows great reflexes to take the catch. However, next ball, MS Dhoni cuts a short ball to point where Glenn Maxwell, off all people, spill the chance.
Kohli gets going with a couple of boundaries off Billy Stanlake as India remain on course for a win. Australia trying really hard to break this stand.
Rohit Sharma falls to a great catch as Peter Siddle gets a delivery to straighten and the edge flies to Shaun Marsh. However, Dhawan and Virat Kohli have steadied the ship wth a good partnership.
Appeal for an LBW as Peter Siddle gets the delivery to nip back in sharply off the deck. Rohit Sharma plays down the wrong line and gets hit on the pad, the umpire says not out and Australia review. Replays show the ball is clipping middle stump but it is umpire's call. Australia retain the review but Rohit survives.
Mohammed Shami cleans up Billy Stanlake and Australia have been bowled out for 230 all out with Yuzvendra Chahal taking 6/42. Brilliant stuff from India and they need 231 for a series win.
Six wickets for Yuzvendra Chahal and he ends his spell with figures of 10-0-42-6. Sensational spell of bowling and he now has the best figures by a spin bowler at the MCG.
Brilliant stuff from Yuzvendra Chahal. He pushes a quick and straight delivery through and Handscomb plays down the wrong line. The ball is missing off and leg stump and hitting middle. The review is confirmed.
Chahal, you beauty. Takes his fourth wicket and Australia are seven down. Jhye Richardson looked to flick a flighted delivery but Kedar Jadhav at mid wicket takes the catch.
Peter Handscomb has hit a fifty and he is keeping Australia afloat in the game. Can they reach 250?
Bhuvneshwar has come back into the attack as Australia look to get the wicket of Peter Handscomb, who is nearing a fifty. Can India run through the tail?
Peter Handscomb holds the key now. However, with not many attacking options, Australia might struggle in the death overs.
Maxwell is turning the tide for Australia with a couple of boundaries off Chahal. Australia need a big innings from the Big Show
Glenn Maxwell pulls Chahal and Jadeja for a couple of boundaries as Australia look to release the pressure. However, one more wicket could spell doom for the Australians, who have a long tail.
Chahal gets his third wicket, Rohit Sharma takes a brilliant catch. The delivery pitches on leg and spins away sharply, Marcus Stoinis pokes at it and Rohit takes a brilliant diving catch at slip. Australia in deep trouble.
The spinners are getting through their overs very quickly. Australia are struggling to get the run-rate going. With only Glenn Maxwell left, they are caught between attack and defence.
Another one falls! Usman Khawaja looks to turn this legbreak to the leg side and he gets a leading edge which is gleefully accepted by Chahal. Australia in deep trouble now.
Spoke too soon. Shaun Marsh was looking good on 39 as he dances down the track and attempts to whip Yuzvendra Chahal to the leg side, he misses and MS Dhoni effects the stumping. Consider you are gone when MS does the stumping.
The partnership between Marsh and Khawaja is nearing 100. A good partnership will be key as Australia aim to make good progress.
Kedar Jadhav concedes 15 runs in his fifth over while Ravindra Jadeja concedes eight runs in his second over. Australia are making a move on. Time to get Yuzvendra Chahal in? Jadhav is still continuing.
Ravindra Jadeja is into the attack now but Shaun Marsh continues to be in great form as he pulls a short ball to the deep midwicket fence for a boundary. The partnership between Khawaja and Marsh is building again.
CATCH DROPPED! That is a rare sight. Kedar Jadhav pushes a flatter delivery through and Marsh edges it, however, Dhoni has dropped the catch.
Kedar Jadhav and Vijay Shankar are bowling in tandem now. India are hunting for more wickets.
A hat-trick for Bhuvneshwar. Hat-trick in getting Finch out in the series that is. For the third time, Bhuvi gets his man. It is the inswinger, the delivery that has troubled Finch all summer and he plays across the line yet again to get trapped in front. Ends a poor summer for the Australian skipper and he can now feel the axe coming soon.
Three consecutive boundaries by Aaron Finch off Bhuvneshwar. This is an interesting tussle going on between the two players.
Usman Khawaja gets going by pouncing on a short ball from Shami to the deep point fence. Finch is looking in good touch.
WICKET! Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the master of the early strike, does it again. Short of a length ball angled across and bit of away movement as well, Carey pokes away from his body and gets an outside edge that is taken low at gully by Virat Kohli diving forward. Superb effort.
No overs have been lost due to the rain break. However, the lunch time has been reduced by 10 minutes, so it will only be a 30-minute break.
And we are back again. One hopes that the rain stays away now for some time. Bhuvneshwar Kumar to resume and can he get Aaron Finch for the third time?
Aargh, this is very frustrating. After two balls, the players are heading back into the pavilion as the rain comes back.
It was just a short rain delay and the players are out in the middle. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will open the bowling and Alex Carey and Aaron Finch are out in the middle.
The covers are coming on and the umbrellas are out in the middle. The start is definitely delayed now as the MCG is covered up.
Here are the playing XIs of both sides. Lots of changes in both camps
Australia: Alex Carey(w), Aaron Finch(c), Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Billy Stanlake, Peter Siddle, Adam Zampa
India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(c), MS Dhoni(w), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal
Virat Kohli has chosen to bowl in Melbourne. Three changes in the side. Vijay Shankar replaces Mohammed Siraj while Yuzvendra Chahal replaces Kuldeep Yadav. The other change is Kedar Jadhav in for Ambati Rayudu. Australia have replaced Nathan Lyon and Jason Behrendorff with Adam Zampa and Billy Stanlake.
The toss has been delayed due to a drizzle. However, if there is no further rain, the toss will happen at 7:35 AM IST which is 10 minutes away.
CONFIRMED! Vijay Shankar will make his ODI debut today. Proud moment for the Tamil Nadu all-rounder.
Vijay Shanker is all set to make his debut for #TeamIndia ðŸ‘ðŸ‘#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ErqruCeXBs
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2019
For Australia, they will be determined to break their rut in bilateral ODI series, having not won a series since Pakistan in 2017. In 2018, they won just three ODI games.
For India, will they hand a debut to Vijay Shankar and give a game to Kedar Jadhav? Or will they persist with the same team? Shikhar Dhawan did mention that Hardik Pandya's absence had hurt the balance of the side and they were looking to rectify it.
A warm welcome to the third and final ODI between India and Australia at the MCG. The Melbourne Cricket Ground saw India creating history in December when they won the Boxing Day Test by 137 runs to ensure they retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Now, almost a month later, can they script yet another fairytale and win an ODI series for the first time?
