Photographs: BCCI Bikash Mohapatra
It's Mahendra Singh Dhoni all the way.
The Indian captain came into this match with a point to prove.
He had had to endure multiple failures in recent times. As captain he had to shoulder the blame for his team suffering a rare reverse in a Test series on home soil (against England), coming in the wake of 4-0 away drubbings against both England and Australia back-to-back.
Dhoni sizzles as top performer of Day 3
Photographs: BCCI
As a batsman the 31-year-old had not scored a Test hundred in 15 months. For the record, he had only five three-figure score to his credit in a nine-year career. As a result many had questioned his place in the Indian Test squad.
A sixth Test century, Dhoni's first after the 144 he made against West Indies at the Wankhede stadium in November 2011, served up as the perfect response.
Dhoni sizzles as top performer of Day 3
Photographs: BCCI
It also happened to be his first against Australia, a team against which he had always struggled, and helped India take a vital first innings lead.
Dhoni proceeded to complete his maiden Test double, remaining unbeaten on 206, his innings helping him get past Sunil Gavaskar (205) – the highest score by an Indian captain.
The captain had led from the front. Well, literally.
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