Indian batsman Virat Kohli has shot to the top of the rankings as the world’s number one T20 batsman following a spectacular performance in the recently concluded India-Australia T20 series.
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Left-hander Marsh (9) had his stumps shattered when he went for a mistimed slog sweep off off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
Doubtless, they deserve every accolade for picking themselves up after losing the first four games of the one-day global series, winning the fifth and final one in Sydney and then upstaging Australia in all three T20 internationals.
The Australians were beaten by seven wickets on Sunday in the final T20 of the India series, with Watson’s unbeaten 124 – the second highest global score by any player in this format – going in vain.
Watson, making his debut as captain in T20I, milked six sixes – three off Ravindra Jadeja and two off Ashish Nehra – and 10 fours during his maiden ton as the Indian bowlers conceded 117 runs in the final 10 overs.
Watson shared a 93-run partnership with No 5 Travis Head, whose contribution was only 26. But while the youngsters in the team jumped around and ran on to the field to be with Raina and Yuvraj Singh, Dhoni stayed back, calmly taking in the moment.
Pacer Shaun Tait was included in place of John Hastings. India charged to 45 runs in the first 3 overs of their inning.
Yuvraj Singh was also a star performer with both bat and ball today and when asked about him Dhoni said “Yuvraj will open up as he gets more and more games”. Dhawan was caught by Bancroft off Watson in the 4th over after the opening pair had added 46 in 3.2 overs. Sharma shifted gears as he struck a six off Maxwell (0-10) and followed it with a boundary of Scott Boland (0-34) to ease the pressure a bit. Raina’s 49 not out off 25 balls included some clever cricket shots and a boundary of the last ball of the match.
Soon after reaching his half-century and crossing the 1000-run mark in T20Is, Sharma chipped a Boyce delivery to Watson at mid-wicket ending the 78-run stand with Kohli.
“We have won the series over here but it is important to look at the bigger picture”.
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According to the latest list released by the ICC, Kohli who had scores of 90 not out, 59 not out and 50 in the three-match series, gained 47 ratings points to move ahead of Finch with 892 ranking points to his credit.
