Dhoni admits waning finishing powers

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni acknowledged Sunday that his finishing abilities are on the wane as India beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the third ODI riding on Virat Kohli's sterling century.

Kohli's unbeaten 154 drove India to their 286-run target in 48.2 overs as the hosts took a 2-1 lead in the five-match one-day series.

Kohli and Dhoni, who scored 80, were involved in a 151-run third-wicket partnership that set up the comprehensive win.

However Dhoni, who promoted himself to number four in the batting order, departed in the 36th over, leaving Kohli and Manish Pandey to get 94 more runs.

"To some extent I am losing an ability to freely rotate in the middle, so I have decided to bat up and let the others finish," said Dhoni.

Once regarded as one of the best finishers in limited-overs cricket - he averages an incredible 101.60 from 64 innings in matches that India have won batting second - Dhoni has recently found it difficult to bat at his usual number six position.

His laboured knock failed to take India over the line in their previous game in New Delhi, one of the few instances when the wicketkeeper-batsman has faltered while chasing.

Dhoni, who recorded his 61st ODI fifty and went past the 9000-run mark - just one of three 'keepers to achieve that feat, alongside Kumar Sangakkara and Adam Gilchrist - hit three towering sixes during his 91-ball stay before falling to fast bowler Matt Henry.

Quick Single: Brilliant Kohli sinks Kiwis in third ODI

"But I know I should still look for the big shots," Dhoni said. "Once you get 15-20 runs, you get into the groove. There were points in the middle where I had to pull myself from playing big shots."

Meanwhile Kohli, who recorded his 26th ODI ton, made the most of a reprieve after he was dropped on six by Ross Taylor at gully off Matt Henry to consolidate his position as India's batting mainstay.

"He is somebody who has learnt a lot and he is somebody who knows his strengths really well," added Dhoni. "It's very difficult to say what the top level is in cricket, but Kohli has done India proud."

Manish Pandey made sure that he gave Kohli the perfect support to canter home in dew-laden conditions at the Mohali Stadium.

Pandey, who scored 28, and Kohli put on an unbeaten 97-run partnership to bring the home crowd to life.

The two teams now head to Ranchi for the fourth ODI on Wednesday.