Shikhar set it up; Rohit and Virat finished it!

India went into the second ODI against Australia under pressure, having lost the first one in Pune badly. The team needed to come up with something special to deny the tourists from extending their dominance.

With the bowlers faring badly, the Australians amassed a massive 359 while batting first on a flat track.

But India’s openers, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, took up the challenge and provided the start any Indian fan would have loved to see.

The duo put on a fantastic 176 runs for the opening wicket after Dhawan got the innings got going with some sizzling strokes.

Rohit matched his partner stroke for stroke, ensuring India kept the required run-rate in check.

Once Dhawan departed, just five runs shy from what would have been a deserving century, Rohit dropped anchor to see India through without any hiccups.

Virat Kohli made his intentions pretty clear with a chip down the track and smoked James Faulkner out of the park.

Whether it was hitting Faulkner over long-off or smashing Shane Watson over deep mid-wicket, each shot was awesome.

His counter-attacking cricket took the pressure off Rohit and the Mumbaikar creamed one through cover point to reach his third ODI century – his first as an opener.

He then turned the heat on the Aussie bowlers, smacking Mitchell Johnson, who in his comeback spell was hit for four boundaries in the over – three by Rohit and one by Virat.

Kohli then turned his attention to Glen Maxwell and hit him for a six and boundary to race into the 90s.

A single off Xavier Doherty gave him his 16th ODI ton and the tag of fastest century by an Indian, and seventh fastest overall.

Rohit finished off the game with a boundary as India breezed past the Australian score with 40 balls to spare.