Virat Kohli Blown Away By Team's Stellar Performance In Second ODI

Virat Kohli’s tweet at the end of the thrilling win over Australia in the second ODI perfectly summed up team India’s performance in Nagpur. On a tough pitch, the hosts came up with a stunning team effort to edge the visitors by eight runs and take a 2-0 lead in the series.

Kohli led from the front, scoring a sublime ton to help India overcame several batting collapses and post a challenging total of 250. India were in a spot of bother after losing Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Ambati Rayudu for just 75 runs on the board. However,  Vijay Shankar, promoted in the batting order, eased the pressure off Kohli with some string of boundaries.

The duo looked set to bat India to a position of strength before Adam Zampa broke the stand by running Shankar out. The allrounder scored 46 off 41 balls en route his 81-run stand. India then suffered two big setbacks in quick succession. Last game’s heroes Kedar Jadhav and MS Dhoni departed on successive deliveries as the hosts found themselves reeling on 171 for 6 from 156 for 3.

However, Kohli remained firm from his end and went on to score a fine century, his 40th in ODIs.

He was well supported by Ravindra Jadeja (21) as the duo added 67 runs for the seventh wicket to take the score close to the 250-run mark. The hosts then suffered another collapse towards the end, losing their last four wickets for just 12 runs to get all out for 250 from 238 for 6.

In reply, Australia came up with a good show but fell short by eight runs.  The visitors started brilliantly with their openers Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja adding 83 runs. However, both the batsmen departed on the same score while Glenn Maxwell and Shaun Marsh too failed to get going. Peter Handscomb and Marcus Stoinis tried to resurrect the innings before the former was run out for 48.

What a nail biting game this has been.

Two wickets for @vijayshankar260 in the final over and #TeamIndia win the 2nd ODI by 8 runs #INDvAUS. We take a 2-0 lead in the five match series pic.twitter.com/VZ3dYMXYNh

— BCCI (@BCCI) March 5, 2019

Stoinis held firm from one end and went on to compile a fine fifty. The equation was finally down to 11 off the last over. Shankar then delivered a stunning over by conceding just two runs and castling Stoinis and Adam Zampa to end the game with three balls remaining.

And as soon as the game ended, Virat Kohli did not waste much time in expressing his delight. The skipper took to Twitter to hail the performance, writing:

“Stellar performances, exceptional teamwork! ??”

Stellar performances, exceptional teamwork! ?? pic.twitter.com/foViGqKP82

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) March 5, 2019