India in Australia, 3rd Test, Day 5 Highlights: MS Dhoni, Ravichandran Ashwin Ensure MCG Draw

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ravichandran Ashwin have dug in for 15 overs to escape with a draw on an action-packed Day 5 at the MCG. Catch all highlights here: (Scorecard | Highlights | Day 4 recap)

MS Dhoni shakes hands with Steve Smith after calling

© AP

12.56 (IST): That's it at MCG! The two captains have had a handshake and taken a draw with four overs to spare. Dhoni and Ashwin have survived well to see India off. It's been an exhilarating game of cricket over five days and in the end the visitors will be glad to have avoided the prospect of yet another 4-0 drubbing. This draw also means that Australia have reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar series. (Mahendra Singh Dhoni Retires from Test Cricket)

12.49 (IST): More records for MS Dhoni here.

MS Dhoni now becomes the Indian captain to score most runs in Tests MS Dhoni - 3452* Gavaskar - 3449 Azhar 2856 Ganguly 2561 #AUSvIND

- Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) December 30, 2014

12.46 (IST): Dhoni and Ashwin have batted together for nine overs. They need to stick on for another six. Can they?

12.34 (IST): Johnson comes from round the stumps to Dhoni with five slips in place. India need to survive 9 more overs.

12.31 (IST): Dhoni is defending and proding his way out in MCG at the moment. In the process he has joined Ponting, Graeme Smith, Stephen Fleming and Allan Border to hit 10k international runs as captain

12.20 (IST): India need to bat for 10 more overs to escape with a draw. Ashwin's stats suggest it isn't impossible.

Ravichandran Ashwin's stats in Tests before MCG Test.

© NDTV

12.05 (IST): OUT! Ajinkya Rahane is gone! He has pulled a short delivery from Hazlewood to Shaun Marsh. India 142/6

12.00 (IST): Josh Hazlewood is into the attack. India 142/5 in 54 overs. The visitors need to bat out 16 overs to earn a draw vs Australia.

11.49 (IST): Is there a twist in tale? MS Dhoni walks out to bat. India need to bat out 18 overs.

11.47 (IST): OUT! Pujara is gone! Mitchell Johnson beats him all ends up with a delivery from round the stumps. It was slower and squared up Pujara. India 141/5

11.44 (IST): Nasty! A Mitchell Johnson bouncer strikes Pujara in the grill of his helmet. It was a nasty knock. India 141/5

That is a seed! LIVE: http://t.co/LDINCret7f #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/CIs73uMWgV

- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 30, 2014

11.38 (IST): Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara have batted for 15 overs now, scoring 34 runs. India 138/4

11.10 (IST): Since Kohli's dismissal, Rahane and Pujara have dug in and added 17 runs in 9 overs. India 121/4

10.54 (IST): FOUR! Ryan Harris, bowling from round the stumps, offers width and Ajinkya Rahane cuts it behind point. India 113/4

Ryan Harris ecstatic after dismissing Virat Kohli after the tea break.

© AFP

 

10.44 (IST): Master and the apprentice? Virat Kohli now has 499 runs in the series, highest by a number four batsman of a visiting batsman in Australia. Sachin Tendulkar is second-best with 480.

10.33 (IST): VIRAT KOHLI IS GONE! He is gone first ball after tea! He flicks a Harris delivery straight to Joe Burns. He goes for 54. India 104/4

Huge. LIVE: http://t.co/LDINCret7f #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/wp1el8wKMd

- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 30, 2014

10.14 (IST): Tea time! India reach 104/3 at tea on Day 5 with Kohli (54) and Rahane (33) in the middle. They need 280 more to win.

10.07 (IST): Rahane moves into 30s with a well-timed flick to the boundary behind square. India 103/3

Kohli was at his combative best and played some cracking shots on Tuesday.

© AP

10.02 (IST): Virat Kohli in England - 1,8,25,0,39,28,0,7, 6,20; Virat Kohli in Australia - 115,141,19,1,169 and 52* now

09.57 (IST): FIFTY for Virat Kohli! His 10th in Tests. He gets there off 87 balls. India 94/3, need 290 runs to win.

09.51 (IST): The chatter between Virat Kohli and Brad Haddin goes on.

09.45 (IST): DROPPED! Rahane cuts uppishly and Chris Rogers at point timed his jump well but couldn't hold on to the catch. Tough chance there. Rahane survives. India 86/3

09.40 (IST): Here are some numbers from Virat Kohli's career so far (until before the MCG Test):

Statistics of Virat Kohli's Test career till the MCG Test.

© NDTV

 

09.28 (IST): FOUR! Rahane brings up fifty-run stand with Kohli with a four. India 72/3

09.25 (IST): FOUR! Kohli plays a glorious cover drive off Johnson. India 68/3

09.06 (IST): FOUR! Kohli straight drives Watson for a four. Australia 54/3

09.05 (IST): FIFTY up for India! Kohli and Rahane have taken first baby steps towards pulling India out of the hole after they lost three early wickets.

09.04 (IST):Lyon bowls into the rough and Rahane cover drives him against the turn. Sign of a man in form. India 48/3

08.55 (IST): Players take drinks with India on 38/3. Virat Kohli 21 and Ajinkya Rahane 5 in the middle. India need these two repeat first innings heroics here.

08.37 (IST): Australia bring Nathan Lyon into the attack. India 23/3

08.29 (IST): A lot of talking between overs, mainly directed towards Kohli.

Plenty of feeling out in the middle! Watch the full incident via this link HERE: http://t.co/CMBR77Ki5z #AUSvIND https://t.co/VjYqDI5lon

- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 30, 2014

08.24 (IST): THREE DOWN! Josh Hazlewood strikes! And he has the crucial wicket of Murali Vijay, trapped LBW for 11 runs.

08.16 (IST): Amidst all the aggression, it must be said that Australia have started splendidly well here. Two early wickets and they've already put India out of the game. Unless, of course, Kohli changes the course of things.

Two early wickets for the Aussies at the MCG! #ohwhatafeeling https://t.co/N6i84f7KpT

- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 30, 2014

08.09 (IST): Mix up and banter! It's all happening at the MCG! Virat Kohli is very lucky not to be on his way back to the stands after a mix up between Kohli and Vijay. Kohli went for a run and Vijay was ball watching. When Warner at mid off threw the ball towards Haddin, Kohli was halfway down the pitch. However, a poor throw from Warner helped Kohli reach the crease again. Aussies converge on Kohli again, this time with a few words for him. It's going to be a long day for Kohli!

08.06 (IST): FOUR! Mitchell Johnson bowls short to his nemesis Kohli and the latter gets into position very quickly and pulls it in front of square for a four. India 12/2

08.02 (IST): Vociferous appeal and an excellent decision! Ryan Harris and co. go up in appeal for a caught behind against Murali Vijay but umpire Richard Kettleborough shakes his head. Replays show that the ball had gone off his hip. What an excellent umpiring call.

08.00 (IST): Day 5 of the Kohli-Johnson show shall commence shortly as Virat walks out to bat at no.4.

07.55 (IST): OUT! Lokesh Rahul is gone for 1! Johnson digs it short and Rahul goes for a pull. A leading edge almost flies over the slips but Shane Watson runs backwards and completes a sharp catch. India in all sorts of trouble. India 5/2

07.52 (IST): Interesting move! Debutant Lokesh Rahul walks out to bat at No. 3 ahead of out-of-sorts Cheteshwar Pujara.

07.49 (IST): OUT! Shikhar Dhawan is gone! He is trapped leg before by Ryan Harris for a duck! India 2/1

Shaun Marsh was run out on 99 at MCG.

© AFP

 

07.05 (IST): Declaration! Australia have declared on 318/9. India need to chase 384 off 70 overs.

06.58 (IST): Oh dear! What a heartbreak for Shaun Marsh. He was more than eager for that 100 but he falls short! He is run out for 99, courtesy a direct hit from Virat Kohli at mid on. Australia 317/9, lead by 382 runs.

06.44 (IST): Day 5 is turning out to be a lot unlike what many would've expected. Most fans and even ex-cricketers would have gone to sleep on Monday, hoping and expecting Australia to declare overnight and set up an exciting day's play for Tuesday. Australia, however, have come out and batted for longer than expected and haven't shown any sense of urgency. What's baffling is the fact that India haven't pushed them either. Dhoni's fields have been far from attacking and the bowlers too have not tested the batsmen. This tactic of Steve Smith is getting a lot of stick on twitter but it does seem fair, given that Aussies are 2-0 up in the series and don't need to do anything foolish.

06.39 (IST): OUT! Ryan Harris (21) is gone. He is caught behind by Dhoni off Mohammed Shami. Australia 303/8, lead by 368 runs. Still no signs of declaration as Nathan Lyon walks out.

06.34 (IST): While Steve Smith prods and ponders the idea of declaration from the dressing room, Michael Clarke is all suited up.

.@MClarke23 discusses the options Steve Smith has on day five at the @MCG, and hopes a plan to win is being devised. https://t.co/kAuCCKZpFP

- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 30, 2014

06.28 (IST): Australia don't seem to be in mood for declaration. Shaun Marsh and Ryan Harris have taken Australia's lead past 350.

06.06 (IST): Play resumes and Ashwin is on straightaway.

05.38 (IST): Australia have scored just seven runs off six over so far. Australia 268/7, lead by 333 runs.

Shaun Marsh plays a shot during Day 4 of MCG Test.

© AFP

 

05.12 (IST): Great scenes as the players walk out to resume the day!

05.02 (IST): The rain is playing a bit of hide-and-seek at MCG. Covers have been on and off multiple number of times.

04.40 (IST): Oh dear! Not good signs! Just three balls into an interesting Day 5 of an evenly-poised Test, rain comes down and forces the players off the field.

04.27 (IST): The Indian top order has had a roller coaster of a 2014! Here are some numbers of the top five:

03.50 (IST): It has been a great year with for Ajinkya Rahane. He has been a solid middle-order bat for India and has managed a unique feat!

Ajinkya Rahane is the only Asian to make Test 100s at both Lord's and at MCG in same calendar year! #AusvInd

- Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 28, 2014

03.46 (IST): Here's how the Day 5 wicket looks. Good for Ashwin and Lyon or will the batsmen still dominate?

A few cracks and footmarks - particularly at the northern end - but still a very good surface for batting #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/LTCjxNko5t

- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 29, 2014

Virat Kohli is on a high after a ton in the 1st innings of the Melbourne Test. Can he stage a repeat in the second innings to take India to a much-needed win against Australia.

© AP

At the end of four days of cricket, Australia seized advantage on Monday by finishing the day on 261/7. A cushion of a 326-run lead will boost the morale in the dressing room of the hosts but a talented Indian batting line-up is well-known for springing surprises. No target will guarantee a win even if batting on the final day is likely to be an uphill task.

Players from both sides are all charged-up - especially Virat Kohli and Mitchell Johnson. While the Aussie bowler has had a good series, he has been rather jaded in the ongoing Test so far. He has tried sledging and banter but Kohli gave it back to him in equal measure en route to 169 in the first innings. If India are to win the Test and stay alive in the series, India's vice-captain will have to stage an encore of his knock - with or without the heated words.

Another man to watch out for on the final day - as far as the Indians are concerned - would be Ajinkya Rahane. With the focus on Kohli, Rahane has a golden chance to become the unlikely hero in Melbourne. In the first innings, the Mumbai batsman hit 147 crucial runs.

For the Australians, Johnson would be looking to heal his 1st innings wounds. The focus would be as much on Kohli as it would be on the fiery pacer. Therefore, spinner Nathan Lyon too has the potential of becoming the hero as the wily bowler can outfox batsmen on the Day Five track.

India are trailing 2-0 in the four-Test series and need to win on Tuesday to stay alive in the series. The fourth and final Test starts in Sydney from January 6.