Opener Shikhar Dhawan believes India are well-prepared to tackle the Australians in the upcoming limited overs series after the tourists registered an emphatic 74-run victory in their first warm-up game on Friday night.
The left-handed batsman led the way along with No. 3 Virat Kohli, both batsmen notching 74 runs each, as India dismantled Western Australia in a Twenty20 game.
Riding on the 149-run partnership between Dhawan and Kohli that came off 14.1 overs, India raked up an impressive total of 192 for four in 20 overs.
Dhawan hit eight fours and three sixes in his 46-ball innings while Kohli smashed seven fours and three sixes in his 44-ball effort. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni too got into the act carting two sixes and a four in his 14-ball 22.
Uncapped left-arm pacer Barinder Sran extended the good tidings for the Indians with a fantastic spell of fast bowling to end with figures of 2-24 from his four overs.
End of the India innings and India have scored 192 in 20 overs. Kohli and Dhawan score seventies #WAXIvIND pic.twitter.com/JKcQwP8X3c
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 8, 2016
Left-arm spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel returned identical figures of two for 13 from three overs each to hasten the rivals’ downfall.
Only opener Travis Birt defied the Indian bowlers with an unbeaten 74 off 60 balls, cracking 11 fours. The rest of the seven batsmen could only score 31 runs among themselves as the WA XI could muster only 118 for six in 20 overs.
Dhawan was delighted to be among the runs and felt it has set him and the team in the right frame for the series that begins on Tuesday with the one-day series.
The 30-year-old failed to get going in the recent home series against South Africa with scores of 14 (two Twenty20 games), 126 runs (in five ODIs at an average of 25.20) and 150 runs (in four Tests, averaging 25.00).
“It was good to get in the groove and get a 100-run partnership before the main matches begin. We got what we needed from the practice match,” he said on Friday.
“We are pumped up and well prepared for this tour. We will be aggressive and play a with positive mindset. We are covering all areas in regards to fitness and skill. We have just got to work hard, keep calm and stay focused,” he added.
Dhawan singled out the 23-year-old Sran, who played his first competitive match in India colours on Friday. “It was a great boost for Barry,” Dhawan said.
“We call him Barry now. In time he is going to get experienced and more mature. He looks fit and strong, and looks a good prospect for the Indian team.”
The only cause of concern for India was their fielding as they put down four relatively easy catches. India will play the same team in a 50-over match today in their final tune-up for the limited overs series.
