The fifth wicket pair, who came together last evening when India were tottering at 71 for four, had kept their wickets intact to reach 87 for four at stumps yesterday.
Today also they continued to put up a strong resistance as they fought back superbly with a century partnership to remained unconquered for first two sessions of the day.
At the end of the second session, India, who desperately need to win this match to square the series 2-2, had advanced to 225-plus runs, still 103 behind the visitors modest first innings score of 330.
Kohli was not out on 77 off 234 balls studded with seven fours, while Dhoni, who has faced 186 balls in his 275-minute knock and hit seven fours and a six, was unbeaten on 75.
The duo had added 156 runs for the fifth wicket by tea.
The Indian pair, who added just 59 runs in 32 overs in the pre-lunch session when resurrection of the tattered innings was the need of the hour, showed a lot more urgency in the second session.
Post-lunch, when the new ball was taken after 81 overs, Dhoni and Kohli became a bit more aggressive and the latter especially came up with some glorious cover drives bisecting the packed field against Bresnan and Panesar at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha here.
The duo put on 81 runs in 27 overs in the second session, including 45 in 16 overs in the first hour of the post-lunch period.
