Internet Desk: India skipper Virat Kohli said Hardik Pandya’s brilliant knock of 83 runs in crisis was the game changer for the Men in Blue in the first ODI of the five-match rubber against Australia at Chennai on Sunday.
India beat the Aussies by 26 runs through Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain effected match to take a 1-0 lead in the 5-match ODI series.
With the help of Pandya career best knock of 83 runs in just 66 deliveries and Dhoni’s master-class of 79 runs, the hosts posted a commendable total of 281 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. At one stage they were 11 for 3 and everybody started thinking that the team would fell like a pack of cards.
Kohli said India once again today proved how good their lower-middle was.
“We spoke at the toss that we wanted to put on a big score. We lost wickets but MS (Dhoni) and Kedar played well. Hardik and later MS finished it off like he does.
“It was an example of how good the middle and lower order can be,” he said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
“Hardik believes in himself, and his innings was the game-changer. He possesses all three skills equally and we are lucky to have him,” Kohli added.
The India captain also complemented his bowlers for restricting Australia after the visitors were set a revised target of 164 off 21 overs in the rain-curtailed match.
“The bowlers were outstanding as well. It is a matter of giving players confidence. Yuzvendra Chahal is very brave and doesn’t say no to any situation. Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) and (Jasprit) Bumrah were very clinical and our bank bowlers,” Kohli said.
“After the rain, we felt this was our best T20 attack. We can’t have a more perfect combination.”
Rival captain Steve Smith said they lost the plot after reducing India to 87 for five.
“Yeah, obviously we got ourselves into a good position. We had them at 5 for 87 and let things off a bit,” he said.
Smith said the better side won in the first ODI.
“We lost too many wickets in the middle. You can’t control the weather. No complaints, we weren’t good enough and we were outplayed by India,” he said.