India defeated Australia by 37 runs in the first of the three-match Twenty20 global (T20I) series at the Adelaide Oval here on Tuesday.
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India former skipper Sunil Gavaskar said that the way Indian team played the last match with Australia as part of the three match T20 series, looks like the team is shaping up nicely and that they look like the favorites to win the upcoming World T20 tournament.
Kohli received able support from captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (11 not out) and Suresh Raina (41), who became the second Indian batsman after Kohli to complete his 1000 runs in T20.
Indian spinners Ravi Ashwin (2-28) and Ravindra Jadeja (2-21) proved the difference between the two teams as the Australian batsmen struggled to keep up the pace. Another Indian debutant, Hardik Pandya brought 5 wides on both sides of the pitch during his first over but he then got on track taking the wickets of Chris Lynn and Matthew Wade with 2 for 37 off three. But Kohli and Raina were untroubled until Raina was bowled by Faulkner in the final over.
But they have enough batsmen in form to cover for his absence with David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh all among runs. “No, I think that was just the situation when the run rate was up around 10 an over like it was for most of the first 12-13 overs”, Finch said when asked if the attack on spinners went downhill for the hosts.
Only this time, the women who wanted to take pictures with Kohli were not fans but members of the national cricket team. Earlier, Rohit Sharma rode his luck well to provide a brisk start.
Adelaide’s Travis Head lunges for the ball during India’s innings.
However, the gesture by Kohli didn’t go down well with Smith, who told Fox Sports: “He (Kohli) gets pretty emotional out there, doesn’t he?”
“And when you’re looking at trying to restrict his scoring, the way he’s so good with his wrists it means he can just get it into gaps”.
The left-handed opener emphasized the need to take full advantage of the big stadiums Down Under. “He’s is always putting pressure back on the bowler, I think that’s what makes him such a great player”, added Finch.
Man of the match Virat Kohli said, “Everything came together nicely and it was good to get that win under the belt”.
Sharma was caught at mid-on off Watson’s first delivery and Shikhar Dhawan couldn’t judge a slow short pitched delivery and guided a thick edge behind the wickets.
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Finch said it was near futile setting a field for Kohli, given the strokeplayer’s soft hands, supple wrists and twinkling feet.
