India win on Australia day

India drew first blood in the three-match Twenty20 series when they beat Australia by 37 runs at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

After Australia captain Aaron Finch won the toss and sent the visitors in to bat on both countries’ national day, the Indians smashed their way to 188/3 thanks to a brilliant 90 not out from Virat Kohli.

The Australians started their run chase full of purpose, at one stage scoring at 11 runs an over. But once they lost David Warner (17), Aaron Finch (44) and Steve Smith (21) they never looked like chasing down the total.

Indian spinners Ravi Ashwin (2/28) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/21) proved the difference between the two teams as the Australian batsmen struggled to keep up the pace.

After the impressive paceman Jasprit Bumrah had Warner caught at mid-on, Smith and Finch scored freely until Jadeja had Smith caught at mid-off by Kohli.

Ashwin then trapped Finch leg before and when Jadeja dismissed newcomer Travis Head the same way in the next over, Australia were 93/4.

Shane Watson (12) and Chris Lynn (17) both fell trying to lift the scoring rate and the remaining batsmen put up little resistance.

“I think it was a good game,” said India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

“I think we batted really well, we got those extra runs and also the bowling was good.”

Earlier, Kohli smashed his 90 runs from just 55 balls, hitting nine fours and two sixes.

He was given good support from recalled batsman Suresh Raina (41), with the pair putting on 134 for the third wicket.

Rohit Sharma got the visitors away to a lightning start, hitting 31 from 20 balls before he mistimed a pull shot off Watson and was caught at mid-on by James Faulkner.

Watson had the other opener Shikhar Dhawan (5) caught by wicketkeeper Matthew Wade two balls later to leave the Indians on 41 for two.

But Kohli and Raina were untroubled until Raina was bowled by Faulkner in the final over.

Dhoni came to the crease and hit a six and a four from his first two balls to take India to what proved a winning total.

SCOREBOARD India: Rohit Sharma c Faulkner b Watson 31, S. Dhawan c Wade b Watson 5, V. Kohli (not out) 90, S. Raina b Faulkner 41, M.S. Dhoni (not out) 11. Extras: (lb3 w7) 10. Total: (for 3 wkts, in 20 overs) 188.

FoW: 1-40, 2-41, 3-175.

Bowling: Tait 4-0-45-0, Richardson 4-0-41-0, Faulkner 4-0-43-1, Watson 4-0-24-2, Boyce 3-0-23-0, Head 1-0-9-0.

Australia: A. Finch lbw b Ashwin 44, D. Warner c Kohli b Bumrah 17, S. Smith c Kohli b Jadeja 21, T. Head lbw b Jadeja 2, C. Lynn c Yuvraj b Pandya 17, S. Watson c Nehra b Ashwin 12, M. Wade c Jadeja b Pandya 5, J. Faulkner b Bumrah 10, K. Richardson b Nehra 9, C. Boyce c Pandya b Bumrah 3, S. Tait (not out) 1. Extras: (lb2, w8) 10. Total: (in 19.3 overs) 151.

FoW: 1-47, 2-89, 3-89, 4-93, 5-110, 6-124, 7-129, 8-143, 9-149.

Bowling: Nehra 4-0-30-1, Ashwin 4-0-28-2, Bumrah 3.3-0-23-3, Jadeja 4-0-21-2, Pandya 3-0-37-2, Yuvraj 1-0-10-0.

Kohli’s romance with Adelaide continues Had Virat Kohli, who remained unbeaten on 90, scored a hundred on Tuesday he would have become the first batsman to reach the triple-figure mark in all the formats in one venue. “I could take this stadium with me wherever I bat. I was just trying to keep things simple. I believe that in T20 as well. This stadium is right up there with anywhere in the world. I would love to thank the fans for coming out and supporting us,” he said after being named man of the match.

“Happy that our T20 World Cup preparation starts from here with a win, we will go on from this game. It was a good batting strip, the ball came nicely on to the bat, The crowd have been brilliant as well, they have supported us very well right throughout the tour,” the 27-year-old added.

What Did Kohli say to Smith Australia ODI and Test skipper Steve Smith (21) looked in good touch before Ravindra Jadeja induced an edge off him at extra cover. which Kohli took and gestured at Smith.

It seemed Smith had been too chatty with him on the field though the actual reason for his behaviour is still unclear.

But there could be a possible banter between the two which did not catch the stump microphone.

According to the visuals, Kohli used a swear word in Hindi after taking the catch of David Warner, at mid-on, as well. But all is well that ends well.

Earlier during the ODI series, Kohli had an on-field faceoff with Australian all-rounder James Faulkner.