MS Dhoni has turned it around after a poor run in 2018 when he failed to score a single fifty in one-day internationals. He now has three successive half-centuries in 2019 in the series against Australia. He also became only the fourth Indian to score over 1000 ODI runs after Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Dhoni, who had managed only 275 runs from 20 ODIs in 2018, scored 51 in Sydney, 55 not out in Adelaide before scoring another one in the series decider in Melbourne. Overall, Dhoni now has 70 half-centuries in one-day internationals.
When he reached 48 on Friday, Dhoni overtook Virat Kohli as the third highest run-scorer in the series. This is also the fifth time Dhoni has scored three successive half-centuries in ODI cricket.
Later in the innings, the 37-year-old overtook Rohit Sharma as the second highest scorer in the series when he reached the score of 80.
India needed 231 to win the match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground which they managed to do in 49.2 overs with Dhoni remaining unbeaten on 87 while Kedar Jadhav made 61 not out.
The duo were involved in a 121-run unbeaten partnership for the fourth wicket which made the chase seem like a walk in the park for India.
The batsmen followed up on a clinical effort from India’s bowlers who bowled out Australia for 230 after putting the hosts into bat.
This is not the first time Dhoni has scored consecutive fifties in more than two matches. Back in 2009, Dhoni scored 94 and 53 vs Sri Lanka before scoring an unbeaten 84 against New Zealand. In 2011, Dhoni scored 69, 78, 50 and 87 not out vs England in 2011. Three years later, Dhoni scored 56, 50 and 79 not out against New Zealand.
