Australia vs India 2018: My Aim was to Take us Home - Virat Kohli

India won the third game of the three-match T20I series convincingly by six wickets at the SCG, Sydney. However, the India skipper Virat Kohli is happy with the team performance, as they managed to draw the series 1-1.

Meanwhile, Australia got off to a fantastic start in the third and final match after skipper Aaron Finch decided to bat first after winning the toss. The opening duo of D’Arcy Short and Aaron Finch played some exceptional cricket, as they added 59 runs in the powerplay overs.

Aussies were off to a flying start

However, Krunal Pandya proved to be the unlucky man in the beginning, as his IPL teammate, Rohit Sharma had dropped Finch on the very first delivery of his first over. The ball was in the air for ages, and Rohit had all the time in the world to settle under it but failed to grab the ball.

Later, Krunal compensated his sorrow by bagging four wickets in the middle

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli handed over the ball to Krunal as and when required. He was the pick of the bowlers who picked up the wickets of D Arcy Short, Ben McDermott on back to back deliveries of his second over. Later, he also bagged the wicket of dangerman, Glenn Maxwell.

In addition to, Aussies lower middle-order batsmen, Marcus Stoinis and Nathan Coulter-Nile added some vital 33 runs to post a score of 164 runs at the end of 20 overs.

However, while chasing down the target, the duo of the Indian team, Dhawan and Rohit nailed the Aussies bowler, as they hit 50-plus score partnership in 4.4 overs only. Meanwhile, the Australia pacer Mitchell Starc opened the account by picking up the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan. He had scored 41 runs off 22 deliveries smashing six boundaries and two sixes.

Also, just after the Powerplay, Adam Zampa removed Rohit Sharma who was batting at 23. Virat Kohli played some excellent cricket, as he had scored his 19th half-century in T20I cricket. Later, Kohli and Karthik also added 50 plus runs partnership for the fifth wicket to win the match with two balls to spare.

“Things become pretty easy when those two guys do the job for us. We thought the wicket slowed down with the old ball. That’s how T20 cricket goes. You lose momentum; you gain it. DK did really well at the end. Maxi and Zampa both bowled well, especially Maxi who has a gut feel of the batsmen. Overall, skill-wise, we were better on the day than Australia.

“When our openers get into the zone they’re difficult to stop. I come in at three and attempt to take us home. With the ball, we were more professional today. I thought it was a 180 wicket. Weather is uncontrollable. These are things you have to accept as a sportsman. A level series is a fair reflection of how the teams have played. Tonight also the fans were really loud and motivated us to the win.”