India took a 1-0 lead in their three-match Twenty20 series against Australia with a comfortable 37-run victory at the Adelaide Oval.
Fireworks lit up the Adelaide night sky to mark Australia day, but it was India’s Virat Kohli who provided the batting pyrotechnics with his highest score in international T20 cricket.
Kohli provided the bedrock of India’s 188 for three with nine fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 55-ball 90.
Australian’s attack was led by Shaun Tait, making his first T20 appearance since the 2011 World Cup, but India flourished with the bat throughout.
Rohit Sharma saw them off to a flier with 31 from 20 balls before Shane Watson struck twice in his first over.
Watson finished with figures of two for 24 from his four overs but Kohli and Suresh Raina, who made 41 from 34 balls, shared a third-wicket partnership of 134 to turn the tide India’s way.
Despite losing the hard-hitting David Warner (17) to T20 debutant Jasprit Bumrah, Australia were in the hunt to chase down the target at 89 for one in the ninth over.
However, in the space of three balls, Steve Smith (21) chipped Ravindra Jadeja to Kohli at mid-off and Aaron Finch fell for 44 attempting to sweep Ravichandran Ashwin after hitting four fours and two sixes.
And...Kohli thrives on the contest. If he was an Aussie, we'd love him. I love his attitude.
— Nathan Buckley (@ncb_cfc) January 26, 2016Australia lost wickets at regular intervals after that with Chris Lynn (17), Watson (12) and James Faulkner (10) failing to build on promising starts.
India’s bowlers shared the wickets around with Bumrah finishing with three for 23 and Ashwin, Jadeja and Hardik Pandya picking up two apiece.
Australia were finally dismissed for 151 with three balls of their innings remaining as India sent out a powerful statement ahead of the forthcoming T20 World Cup.
