Pant’s Dismissal Was the Turning Point, Feels Captain Kohli

Kohli lauded opener Dhawan’s power-packed 76 off 42 balls after a prolonged lean patch that started in England.

Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bowl against Australia in the first T20I in Brisbane on Wednesday.

(Photo: AP)

Young Rishabh Pant's dismissal in the penultimate over "changed things", according to India skipper Virat Kohli after Australia won an exciting first T20 International by four runs in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Australia made 158/4 in 17 overs but India were given a target of 174 in the same number of overs, courtesy Duckworth-Lewis method in the rain-curtailed game.

India looked on course with Pant and Dinesh Karthik adding 51 runs in 3.5 overs before the burly keeper-batsman was dismissed trying to play a cheeky shot off Andrew Tye.

It was a close game, exciting one for the crowd to watch and for the players as well, was a see-saw battle. We started well with the bat, fumbled in the middle overs, in the end we thought we’ll win with Pant and Karthik but it changed again with Pant’s dismissal.

Virat Kohli

Shikhar Dhawan en route his 76 against Australia in the first T20I in Brisbane on Wednesday.(Photo: AP)

Kohli lauded opener Shikhar Dhawan's power-packed 76 off 42 balls after a prolonged lean patch that started in England and continued till the second last match of the home series against West Indies.

He’s (Dhawan) a very strong player at the top of the order. He hasn’t got a T20 hundred yet, but the way he plays it really benefits the team. That’s how it goes in the game. What we can do is learn from them and get back better.

Virat Kohli

Kohli feels closely-placed remaining two games on November 23 and 25 could be a good thing for the team as it won't be fretting over the loss for a long time.

On the day, if we can have three-four guys to stand up for the team, that’s what we want. Don’t have much time to think of things, which can be a good thing as well as a bad thing.

Virat Kohli

Man of the match Adam Zampa was delighted at having picked up the prized wicket of Virat Kohli.(Photo: AP)

Australian T20 captain Aaron Finch said: "Thought the boys played really well, especially in the middle overs with the bat."

On a lighter note, Finch admitted that he never understands the equations of Duckworth-Lewis method.

"Never been my strong point at school (maths)," said Finch at the post-match presentation.

Man of the match Adam Zampa was delighted at having picked up the prized wicket of Virat Kohli.