The Indian skipper, Virat Kohli was impressed with KL Rahul scoring a fine half-century, which was only among the few positives, other than Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliant death-over bowling during the first T20I against Australia at Visakhapatnam which the tourists won by three wickets on Sunday. However, the young wicket-keeper batsman, Rishabh Pant was needlessly run-out and departed for just three runs.
Describing the same during the post-match presentation, Kohli said, “We want to give game time to Rahul and Pant to figure out what we need to do in the ICC World Cup 2019. I think he (Rahul) played a really good knock, we had a good partnership. 150 would have been a winning score the way the pitch played. Australia deserved to win as they played better than us.”
Chasing a target of 127, Australia were cruising along before Bumrah’s (3/16 in 4 overs) brilliant 19th over nearly won the game for India. Kohli praised his bowlers and debutant, Mayank Markande, who returned wicketless and went for 31 runs in his four overs.
WATCH – Rishabh Pant Loses His Wicket In An Unfortunate Way
Virat elaborated, “In the first innings, we were not up to scratch. The wicket was decent enough till the 15th over. We didn’t bat really well. A low scoring game is always on the cards in T20 cricket. With the bowling effort, we were pleased. Bumrah can do wonders with the ball when it is reversing and did exceptionally well to get us in the game. And Mayank did well in the middle overs as well. Anything is possible now.”
Coming into bat after Australia two quick wickets in Marcus Stoinis (1) and captain Aaron Finch (0) early in the chase, Glenn Maxwell anchored the chase and smashed six boundaries and two sixes over the fence during his 43-ball 56. Opener D’Arcy Short provided good support with a run-a-ball 37.
After helping his team to go past the winning line, Maxwell said, “Win is a win obviously. I thought I was able to control in the middle overs. I had a good partnership with D’Arcy, but unfortunately, both of us got out in quick succession which caused a bit of chaos towards the end.”
WATCH – Jasprit Bumrah Takes Crucial Wickets In The Penultimate Over
The match was undecided till the final ball, especially after Bumrah’s brilliant penultimate over in which he pocketed two wickets of debutant Peter Handscomb and Nathan Coulter-Nile. Pat Cummins at the end took his side home after smashing a brilliant boundary past over off Umesh Yadav and followed it up with a brace.
Describing the same, Maxwell said, “Pat Cummins and Jhye Richardson were excellent in the end. That’s (batting at 4) something I have done well in T20Is and domestically back home in the Big Bash. It’s a position I’m comfortable to bat in. Hopefully, I continue to do well. Krunal Pandya and Bumrah were extremely hard to get away. I decided to target other players like Yuzvendra Chahal. I was trying to hit another six (on his dismissal), but it was a poor bat swing, I’ll make amends in the next game.”
Talking about that penultimate over, the Australian skipper Aaron Finch conceded facing Bumrah in the death overs is no mean feat.
Finch explained, “When Bumrah has got overs up his sleeve, it’s never easy. The run-outs did not help but great to get the win. They dragged the length back after the initial start. We were able to get some reverse and were bowling into the wicket. These guys are getting more and more experience. It’s a really strong position to be in. Nathan is a wicket-taker. He has been very consistent in the IPL as well. Maxi played a hell of an innings on a pitch which was tough to bat.”
