Virat Kohli in action against Australia© AFP
Virat Kohli anchored India’s innings with a 63-run 48-ball knock-off as the side chased Australia for 187 runs in the third and T20I decided to take the series 2-1. India faltered 30 for 2 in pursuit at one point, but a 104-run partnership between Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav for the third wicket kept India on the hunt at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The Rohit Sharma-led side went on to win the game by 6 wickets on the penultimate ball of the innings.
Suryakumar scored 69 runs off 36 balls and Kohli played second fiddle when the first went up against the Australian bowlers. However, when Suryakumar stepped out, Kohli shifted gears – including a six on the first ball of Pat Cummins’ final – to bring India closer to victory.
After the game, Kohli revealed his batting strategy during the chase.
“When Surya started hitting like that, I also looked a little bit at the dugout and Rohit (Sharma) and Rahul (Dravid) both said to me ‘you can just keep hitting’ because Surya (Suryakumar Yadav) hit on that Well. It was just about building a partnership. I just used my experience a little bit, stayed behind and as soon as he left I tried to take the first few balls and got a six from Pat Cummins and that made me ready again” , Kohli said at the post-match presentation.
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When Kohli was fired, India needed five runs to win the last four balls. New batter Dinesh Karthik singled on the very first ball he saw and Hardik then played a dotball before crushing the next for a four and sealing the game for India.
Previously, Tim David knocked out 54 runs and Cameron Green hit a 21-ball 52 while Australia scored 186 for 7 in 20 overs. Axar Patel again played with the ball picking 3 for 33 in his four overs. India had won the toss and chose to field in the game.
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