From Virat's ton to Dhoni's winning run: Major takeaways from 2nd India vs Australia ODI

India successfully chased down a target of 299 runs set by Australia in the second one-day clash at Adelaide. The three-match series now goes to a decider in Melbourne on Friday after Australia won the opening game in Sydney by 34 runs. 

India defeated Australia by six wickets in the second One-Day International match at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday. 

Skipper Virat Kohli struck a century and MS Dhoni an unbeaten fifty as India level the series 1-1. 

Chasing a challenging 299 to win, India overhauled the target with four balls to spare. 

The three-match series now goes to a decider in Melbourne on Friday after Australia won the opening game in Sydney by 34 runs. 

Australian skipper Aaron Finch won the toss and opted to bat first but departed for six as he did in the series opener in Sydney when the hosts won by 34 runs. Not only Finch, other batsmen too kept losing wickets on a regular intervals. 

But thanks to Shaun Marsh, who hammered 11 fours and three sixes, to slam his seventh ODI century and second against India as Australia piled up a competitive total. 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar took a four-wicket haul otherwise India could have been chasing an even higher total. 

Kumar bowled Aaron Finch (6) through the gate in the seventh over. 

He returned to account for both Maxwell and Marsh in the 48th over and it dented momentum towards 300, as Australia lost a flurry of wickets. 

Virat Kohli displayed a magnificent batting show when he smashed his 39th one-day international century while chasing the mammoth total. 

He was given the player of the series for his crucial contributions. 

While receiving the award, he said, "I try and keep things simple. You have to take calculated risks. Hopefully, I can keep helping the team."

MS Dhoni, who was clearly suffering in the heat, smashed a huge six to bring the scores level and reach his half-century before scoring the winning run with four balls to spare. 

Former skipper Dhoni, playing in his 334th ODI, cooly guided India across the line with four balls to spare to back up a dazzling century from captain Virat Kohli. 

"Tonight was an MS (Dhoni) classic," man-of-the-match Kohli said. "He takes the game till the end, when only he knows what's going on in his mind, and he backs himself to hit those big shots at the end.

"And hats off to Dinesh (Karthik) too, he came in and took the pressure off him."

MS Dhoni has been criticised for his slow-run rate lately but his performance his is the perfect answer to all the critics. 

Dhoni, who has been coping a lot of criticism for his waning finishing skills, turned back the clock and took India past the finish line with a final over six. 

But he was physically struggling in the heat of the afternoon when temperatures soared well above the 40 degree Celsius mark. 

He needed treatment from the team physio to finish his match-winning knock and keep India alive in the series. 

"It was a really tough day. MS in the end was tired as well. We need a good day's rest, a good day's travel and then we'll recuperate and get ready for the MCG," said Virat on tough conditions at Adelaide. 

India got off to a frantic start with Shikhar Dhawan hitting five boundaries in his 28-ball 32 runs. He put on 47 runs for the opening wicket with Rohit Sharma (43). 

The latter had another strong outing, adding 54 runs with Kohli for the second wicket as India crossed 100 in the 18th over. But just when things were going smoothly, he mishit a pull off Marcus Stoinis (1-46) and was caught in the deep.

Both the openers made crucial contributions to lift off the pressure from the middle order batsmen. 

Mohammed Shami, along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar exerted on the proceedings with the new ball, and didn't let the Australian openers get away quickly. 

He got three wickets in his 10-over spell as he dismissed Alex Carey, Marcus Stoinis and Jhye Richardson. 

Shami tried to compensate when the lack of a sixth bowling option started to show.

Maxwell's, known for hard hittings, got lucky twice but still didn't manage to reach his half-century. 

Siraj had a woeful day as he missed out twice on Maxwell's wicket as he survived on 26 and 41. 

First, DRS overturned an lbw decision in the 44th over with the ball going down leg, and then Rohit Sharma dropped a tough chance at extra cover in the 47th over.