- India beat Australia by 37 runs in the first T20 at Adelaide on Tuesday.
- Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 90 off 55 balls.
- Debutant Jasprit Bumrah picked up three wickets for 23 runs.
Virat Kohli thrashed an unbeaten 90 before a collective effort by the Indian bowlers gave the visitors a resounding start in the T20 series against Australia with a 37-run victory in the first match at Adelaide on Tuesday.
The in-form Kohli faced 55 balls in his whirlwind knock, which was laced by nine fours and two sixes, to give India a respectable total of 188 for three after being put into bat at the Adelaide Oval.
India Bundles Out Australia
The Indians then bundled the hosts for 151 in 19.3 overs to record only their second win on the tour so far, with two more T20 matches in Melbourne (January 29) and Sydney (January 31) remaining. The win was certainly an ideal Republic Day gift for the Indian fans.
Chasing 189, Australia got off to a rollicking start with Aaron Finch (44 runs, 33 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes) and David Warner (17) stringing 34 runs in three overs.
Then Bumrah removed Warner in the sixth over, who was caught at mid-on.
Spinners in Action
Ravindra Jadeja (2-21) bowled superbly in the middle overs, dismissing Smith in the ninth over.
The initiative was wrested back to India when Ashwin returned to trap Finch LBW in the 10th over, and when Jadeja did the same to Travis Head (2) in the next over, the Men in Blue were well on top as Australia had lost three wickets for four runs, crossing the 100-mark in the 12th over.
The run-rate was getting ahead of the hosts at that stage, and while Shane Watson (12) hit a couple of big hits to calm the dressing room, they needed a few more of those and he was dismissed going for a big one against Ashwin, caught by Nehra at short fine leg.
It was left to Chris Lynn (17) to come up with some big hits like he did in the Big Bash League. Dhoni threw the ball to Pandya and the youngster delivered, snapping up both Lynn and Matthew Wade (5) in two balls, across the 15th and 17th overs respectively.