Kohli’s strength is his character, says Dhoni

There were periods during the Kohli-Yuvraj association of 45 off 38 when the younger man seemed a little frustrated at not being able to put pressure on the fielders owing to the older man’s injury-driven reduction in speed. Dhoni was asked if he had contemplated any instructions at that stage. “It's an easy decision – you have two individuals who know the best,” he came back, almost before the question was completed. “Yuvraj Singh has played more than 250 ODI games and Virat Kohli is the vice-captain of the team. You have to leave it to them to take the best decision at that point of time. From outside, you can crib about the fact that he is not able to take that extra double run but also the fact is he had already played nine to ten deliveries and the legspinner (Adam Zampa) was bowling. He still had the chance of hitting a six – just standing there and delivering it. It was left to them as to what was the best decision at that point of time. That's where experience counts, when you have people who are batting and who are in the middle, they can take their own decision as to what is best for the team.”

India have been well served in the last two months by Ashish Nehra, the comeback paceman who was again outstanding, sending down 13 dot balls and going for just 20 in his four-over spell, which also fetched the wicket of the marauding Usman Khawaja at a most opportune moment for the hosts. “I think experience counts, but also he knows his body,” Dhoni pointed out. “He’s not someone who is 22-23 but what's important when you're over 35 is you have to know your body. What your body needs so that you can turn up for the next game and give your best. He's somebody who loves to bowl in the nets but also he knows which day he doesn’t want to bowl a single delivery. He knows what he wants to bowl and more often than not, he executes. It's all about that. You have a clear picture in mind as to this is what I want to execute. If you can restrict the opposition to 160 after, in the first six overs they had scored 60, I thought it was a very good effort by the bowlers.”