Virat Kohli, spinners star in 2nd T20I; register comprehensive series win in Australia​

New Delhi: India led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni were exceptional on the day at the MCG, Melbourne as the visitors sealed the Twenty20 series with a 27-run win on Friday.

India have taken a 2-0 lead and will go into the last match on a high. India scored a mammoth 184/3 before Australia were scrambled for 157/8 in 20 overs.

MS Dhoni needs to be credited as the side came back strongly with their bowling after Australia got off to a big start.

Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh dictated the proceedings and ran through the first power play seeing off Jasprit Bumrah and Ashish Nehra. In no time the hosts cruised to 62/0 in six overs with skipper Aaron Finch punishing all the short balls everywhere in the field.

Dhoni introduced spin in the form of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin but Finch ensured he got the scorecard ticking off at a brisk pace. 26 runs were belted in the duo's first three overs before Ashwin struck India's first wicket. It was an eventful over where two catches were dropped before Hardik Pandya held on to Shaun Marsh's shot at long-on.

Dhoni brought in Pandya next and the youngster struck with Chris Lynn making his way out. Yuvraj Singh came into the action and bowled two vital overs that changed the course of the game as he sent Glenn Maxwell on his way and also bowled a tidy spell.

India got a hold from there on and just like Adelaide, the wickets of the Aussies started to crumble fast. Bumrah bowled an excellent last over and Austrlia finished at 157/8.

Earlier, India got off to a bright start through Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. After three quiet overs in the beginning, the duo broke the shackles loose and targeted the Aussie bowlers. In no time the in-form duo soaked in everything and went ablaze at the MCG.

Interestingly, they too added 97 runs for the first wicket before Dhawan departed. Virat Kohli came in and started to set the game from where he left off in Adelaide. He got the necessary boundaries and creamed the ball through the off side.

After Rohit Sharma (60) got out, MS Dhoni came in and chipped in with a brisk 14. The duo had ensured running between the wickets were at top. In the end a fifty from Kohli ensured 184 runs on the board as India felt they dominated the proceedings at the MCG.