Good morning and welcome to Firstpost's coverage of the fourth day of the Chennai Test.
The stats simply blew Australia away. So many records fell as Dhoni slammed his way to an unbeaten double century. In the words of Virender Sehwag: "We were all expecting to field for at least one session yesterday but full credit to Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Dhoni kept the strike and hit a lot of sixes too."
"His (Dhoni) strike-rate was 87 per cent (84.55) which is quite brilliant. Only a few players are there in the world who can do that," Kohli, who scored his fourth Test century on the day was lavish in praising his captain after close of play. "It was brilliant batting especially coming in at the fall of Sachin Tendulkar's wicket. The way he batted was usual for him and when he is in flow he can hit the ball a mile."
And the players are on the field. India 515-8. Lead by 135 runs. Dhoni 206 off 243 balls, Kumar 16 (56)
Dhoni starts off with a reverse sweep for four. Wow. Yesterday was all about power, today can we see a different approach? India 519-8
Huge appeal from Pattinson. It jagged back but Dharmasena was unmoved. It hit him outside the line. India 524-8
India will be looking to bat for as long as possible. The lead is up to 144.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar on strike, Nathan Lyon comes in to bowl and we have a four... dabbed to the third man region, just past the slip.
SIX! Dhoni continues and so does the madness. Great stuff and Lyon suffers again. He might stop playing cricket we say. Ind 536-8.
Lyon to Dhoni again. The umpire should declare it a no-contest.
Another four. Dhoni is motoring away. He has already reached 224... a triple century for the taking? The ball is jumping off the wicket and it should be difficult for batting... should be...
Meanwhile, Lyon has reached his own double century. 43-1-200-3 . So Dhoni's not alone. India 546-8
This is also the highest score by an India captain, going past Tendulkar's 217 against New Zealand in Ahmedabad
WICKET! Dhoni falls. Caught Wade Bowled Pattinson. A bouncer did the trick, finally. He went for the hook, got a slight edge through to the keeper. 224. India 546-9. What a knock, what a knock, what a knock. India lead by 166 runs with 1 wicket remaining.
Also a five-wicket haul for Pattinson who has been Australia's best bowler by a mile. 5-94 in 29 overs... great effort from the 'fragile' man.
MS Dhoni c Wade b Pattinson 224 (265b, 24x4, 6x6) SR: 84.52
Okay, time for Bhuvneshwar to farm the strike and get his ton now.
Bhuvneshwar is keeping the strike, a single off the last ball takes India to 549-9. VVS Laxman feels India should declare right away.
Hahaha! Bhuvneshwar refuses the single. Wonder what Ishant might tell him...
Oscar madness and all that yada yada: Best actor: Dhoni, Best supporting actor: Bhuvneshwar. Best music: Harbhajan Singh (Have you seen his music video) Lifetime award: Sachin, Best new comer: Che Pujara
Now Bhuvneshwar uses his feet, gets to the pitch of the ball and smacks a four. He is making it look easy. 'That's the shot of a batsman,' says Border. India 564-9
Damn, that was Mhambrey's record. Now Boycott might have something more to say about the former Mumbai skipper.
The lead is up to 187 runs. The partnership is already 21 runs. India 567-9. Ishant and Bhuvneshwar in no trouble.
The Aussies probably think they are still bowling to Dhoni. Wake up, people.
And that's all out. India 572. Bhuvi, 38 runs, is the last man out, lead by 192 runs. The slower ball did the trick.
B Kumar c Clarke b Siddle 38 (97b, 4x4)
The Australian batsmen looked all at sea with the exception of Clarke in the first innings. They will want to turn that around now but it's hard to see them do that. India have three spinners and they should be able to do a better job than Lyon.
192 runs. Wow. That's a lot of runs.
Players are back on in the middle. Ashwin to bowl the first over. He had 7 wickets in the first innings.
Cowan keeps it out... it was didn't turn, came in with the arm. Australia 1-0.
Watson is opening the innings with Cowan. No Warner, probably didn't want two left-handers against the offies.
Oooh and we have Harbhajan from the other end.
Considering how India hammered the second new ball, Dhoni probably feels spin is a better option. Quick run will ease the pressure on the Aussies.
Bhajji is getting the ball to turn and bounce. A lot of turn. And a lot of bounce.
Oyyeeeee... Ooohs and Ahhs all around the batsmen with every ball. This is good stuff.
Bhajji and all the other fielders go up. Not given. Cowan still there in the middle. Sehwag changing ends with a smile on his face. Not out.
Watson is probably the one batsman along with Clarke in the Australia team who is comfortable against spin. for the rest of them, this will be a learning experience.
'Kya baat hai, kya baat hai yaar' goes Sehwag in the slips. 'Badiya hai' This is fun. Not for the Aussies. Aus 2-0.
MS Dhoni 211* - now the highest score by a wicket-keeper vs Australia (previous: 210 by Pak's Taslim Arif Faisalabad March 1980) #IndvsAusby mohanstatsman via twitter 2/25/2013 4:10:57 AM
an innings that bears comparison with dhoni's. sydney jan 2012. australia 37-3, finished 659-4. michael clarke 329 not out.by bhogleharsha via twitter 2/25/2013 4:41:26 AM
STAT: It's the 6th time India have passed 550 in an innings against Australia in a test match. #INDvAUSby FOX_CRICKET via twitter 2/25/2013 4:45:01 AM
The only wk, apart from Dhoni and Gilchrist, to score Test double from No.6 or lower is Imtiaz Ahmed, v NZ in 1955 http://bit.ly/W5upOYby rajeshstats via twitter 2/25/2013 4:49:55 AM
India have avoided the follow on by 364 runs and counting #INDvAUSby Richie Benaud via twitter 2/25/2013 4:50:15 AM
