Virat Kohli, Australia vs India 2018
Virat Kohli (Credits - Twitter)

Finally, the Indian team won the first Test of a series in Australia. And, there would be no better ending than this, as the game went down to the wire. Virat Kohli’s boys delivered the goods when it was required the most. Speaking of the historic victory, the skipper, Virat Kohli showered words of praise on Cheteshwar Pujara and his bowlers.

Initially, it was all Cheteshwar Pujara, who knocked the brilliant century to put Indians on top of the game. Then, it was Ashwin and Co, who rattled Australians in the first Innings to get a 15-run lead.

The same story was repeated in the second innings for Team India. However, this time, Ajinkya Rahane also took the onus on him to deliver the goods alongside Cheteshwar Pujara. With 322 runs on the board, Indian bowlers bundled out Australians to take themselves to a 31-run win.

Australia vs India 2018, Virat Kohli
Team India (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Collectively we were the better team and deserved to win – Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, in the post-match presentation, quoted that the team showed the character throughout the game, to end on the right side of the result. Further, he added that taking 20 wickets with four bowlers in the side is a huge achievement.

”These things happen in Tests, ups and downs through a game. You need to just stay calm. Odds were stacked against them. They fought really well but we executed our plans well and got that last wicket which were intending to get. (Whether he felt the heat) I wouldn’t say I was cool as ice but you just don’t try to show it. Jasprit was getting worked up in his last over but I just told him to relax. Super proud (of the bowlers), to have four bowlers and take 20 wickets is a great achievement. Something that we haven’t done in the past,” Virat Kohli quoted.

Australia vs India 2018, Day 4, Lunch Report
Getty Images

”Collectively we were the better team and deserved to win. (On Pujara’s knock) Priceless from Pujara, we were down and out at lunch on day 1. His grit and determination brought us back in it. We always knew that runs on the board would make the home side tentative. Any lead was gold and we got 15. In the second innings again, he and Rahane batted well,” he added.

Lower order could have done better – Virat Kohli

Further, Indian skipper quoted the low-order batsmen could have done better to make it harder for Australia. He wants that area to be sorted out before heading to Perth for the second Test of the series. Indian tail had added only 25 runs in the second dig.

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Mohammed Shami, Australia vs India 2018
Mohammed Shami with Virat Kohli. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

”I think our lower middle order and lower order could have done better. We could have added another 30-35 runs more which could have taken the game totally beyond Australia. So these are things that we have to think about going to Perth but if someone had told me before the series that I would be 1-0 up as soon we started the series, I would have taken it with both hands,” Virat Kohli inferred.

All in all, it was a historic victory for Team India in Australia. They have displayed top-notch skills right through the game to end on the right side of the result.

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