5 players who helped India win the first T20I: After being beaten ‘black and blue’ by the Aussies in the ODI series, which Team India lost 1-4, they regrouped and came back strongly to inflict a humiliating defeat on the hosts in the first of the three-match T20I series at Adelaide. Five significant reasons that enabled victory for India:
- Virat Kohli’s impeccable form
After having scored 381 runs from 5 games with a couple of centuries and a couple of half-tons in the recently concluded ODI series, the vice captain, Virat Kohli, carried his good form into the T20I series. Losing the openers, Shikhar Dhawan (5) and Rohit Sharma (31), Kohli, in the company of the southpaw, Suresh Raina (41), went on to stitch a partnership of 134 runs off 14.3 overs (the best partnership in the match for any wicket) for the third wicket, which clearly defined the course of the match.
Kohli went on to score an unbeaten 90* runs off 55 deliveries with the help of 9 fours and 2 sixes.
- Suresh Raina’s great comeback
Raina, who was dropped from the ODI squad after his poor show in the ODI and T20I series against South Africa at home, late last year, was included in the T20I squad and got an opportunity to play in the first game. Raina did not disappoint. Though he played second fiddle to Virat Kohli in their third-wicket partnership of 134 runs in 14.3 overs, he blocked one end and helped Kohli to plunder the runs from the other end. He made a patient 41 runs of 34 deliveries and also showed glimpses of his power hitting by scoring 3 fours and a huge six.
- Great bowling display by Jasprit Bumrah
He 22-year old Jasprit Bumrah who made a dream debut in the fifth and final ODI at Sydney by picking up 2 wickets giving away 40 runs, continued his wonderful bowling display at Adelaide also. Earning his T20I cap in the first encounter, the youngster accounted for the crucial wickets of the dangerous opener, David Warner (17), James Faulkner (10) and Cameroon Boyce (3), giving away 23 runs in his spell of 3.3 overs. He gave these breakthroughs just before these batsmen could become dangerous, starting to score big runs.
- Ashwin showing his class in this format
Ravichandran Ashwin, who topped the ICC Test Bowlers ranking post the home series against South Africa, found the going a bit tough in Australia during the ODI series. Having picked up just 2 wickets in two games, he was duly dropped. However, he was picked up for the first T20I game and he clearly showed his class and mettle. Bowling his full quota of 4 overs, giving away 28 runs, he accounted for the Aussie skipper and opener, Aaron Finch (44) just when he was opening up and getting to score big and the other dangerous Aussie batsman, Shane Watson (12) even before he could start to strike big.
- Impressive debut by Hardik Pandya
The 22-year old, all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who had a very successful domestic season was rewarded with a call for national duty to the T20I squad. The team management rewarded him with his T20I cap at Adelaide. Called into bowl by the skipper, the youngster who was clearly overawed by the big stage that he was playing in, erred in his very first over, giving away as much as 5 wides and had an extended first over that contained 11 deliveries. Additionally he also gave away 14 more runs. His first over cost as much as 19 runs and that was hitting the Team India very hard.
However, Dhoni, exercised confidence in this young man, realising the fact that he (Pandya) was playing his first game and brought him on over again.
By this time Pandya could get the drift of the situation and the same was visible in the improvement in his bowling. In his spell of 3 overs, Pandya gave away 37 runs but picked up the wickets of the danger man Chris Lynn (17) and the wicket-keeper, Mathew Wade (5).
An overall team effort of Team India was witnessed in the match, where each took pride in others success and this collective effort helped the team go ahead 1-0 in the three match series.
Scores :
India 188/3 in 20 overs : Kohli 90 (55, Raina 41 (34), Rohit 31(20), Watson 2/24 and Faulkner 1/43
Australia 151/10 in 19.3 overs : Finch 44 (33), Smith 21 (14), Warner 17 (9), Lynn 17 (16), Bumrah 3/23, Jadeja 2/21, Ashwin 2/28, Pandya 2/37