Virat Kohli may have been awarded the named Man of the Match after India's win in Adelaide on Tuesday, but the Indian captain was quick to hail it as 'an MS Dhoni classic'. 

Kohli, who scored 104 runs from 112 balls as India chased down the target of 299 with six wickets to spare at Adelaide Oval, praised to the other stars of the day- MS Dhoni and Bhuvnshwar Kumar - for their role in the series-leveling win.

Kohli singled out Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s death-overs spell of 3/15 as pivotal to India chasing 299 instead of 30 runs more. He also acknowledged MS Dhoni’s unflappable character for finishing what he had started.

Bhuvneshwar, after a first spell of 5-0-16-1, removed Shaun Marsh (131) and Glenn Maxwell (48) in his ninth over – the 48th of the Australian innings – and then claimed a third in the final over. 

“We wanted to try and restrict them in the end. To get them (Maxwell and Marsh) in two balls was outstanding for us, those breakthroughs were crucial,” said Kohli. “That meant we were not chasing 330. Bhuvi was outstanding with the ball, he came back and brought us in the game towards the end. Backing five bowlers and getting the job done is always a pleasing thing for a captain.”

Kohli led India’s chase after the loss of three wickets and took the team almost home after his stand with Dhoni. While Virat was the aggressor during the stand, Dhoni kept adding singles and the scorecard ticking.

After Virat's wicket, Dhoni sent Lyon for six and with Dinesh Karthik too India close to the target. The former India captain levelled the scores with a second six that also raised his fifty. Dhoni finished with 55 off 54 balls, which Kohli felt was a tribute to his stamina and character.

“You saw MS in the end, he was tired as well. There is no doubt that he shouldn’t be a part of this team. Tonight was an MS classic,” he said. “Only he knows what’s going through his mind. He calculates the game so well. He backs himself to hit those big hits. Hats off to him and Dinesh as well. He came in and showed the right kind of intent. MS was as composed as ever. We try and help each other (MS and himself). Tonight was special for us.”

The third and final ODI will be played in Melbourne on Friday.