Published: Nov 25, 2018, 05:52 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 25, 2018, 05:52 PM (IST)
India captain Virat Kohli lauded his troupe after the visitors bounced back to level the three-match T20 International series 1-1 in the final rubber at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Chasing 165, India were with openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan making mincemeat of the bowling attack. The duo ran amok as India raced away to 67 in 33 balls.
Kohli, who brought up his 19th T20I half century and remained unbeaten on 61, stitched a crucial 60-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Dinesh Karthik as the duo took India to the finish line with two balls to spare.
“Things become pretty easy when those two guys [Dhawan and Rohit] play like that at the top. I think DK showed great composure at the death along with me stringing a partnership to get us home,” Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
For Australia, spinners Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell were the most economical bowlers with the rest going in an excess of 6.50. Zampa snapped the big wicket of Rohit, while Maxwell ended KL Rahul’s stay. “I think Maxy and Zampa bowled very well. I thought overall, skill wise we were better than Australia,” Kohli said.
With the win, India have ensured they remain unbeaten in their T20 engagements since July 2017 when they lost to the West Indies in a one-off game in the Caribbean. India have now won 21 out of their 28 T20Is since then.
Kohli has remained not out 14 times when chasing in T20Is and India won the match every time. “I thought with the ball we were more professional today. I thought it was 180 type of wicket. Those 15 runs less were crucial. A level series is a great show of how the teams have played,” Kohli said.
