AUS v IND 2020-21: “To win without two star players makes me proud of this team” says Virat Kohli after T20I series victory

Kohli reserved special praise for Hardik Pandya.

Indian team registered their 9^th consecutive T20I win as they defeated Australia by 6 wickets in the second T20I of the series at the SCG. It was a brilliant win from the Men in Blue, as they were chasing a hefty target of 195 runs.

Australia had batted first and put on 194/5 with stand-in captain Matthew Wade making a half-century and Steve Smith made 46 runs. T Natarajan was the star bowler with 2/20 in his four overs.

India started off well in the chase, with Dhawan making 52 and Rahul making 30. Then Kohli made 40 to take India into a relatively winning position, from where the onus was on Hardik Pandya to take the team home.

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He did it in style cracking 42* in 22 balls with 2 sixes and 3 fours, including four and 2 sixes in the last over, with Daniel Sams bowling and 14 runs needed. India won the match by 6 wickets and went 2-0 up with the third and last T20I to be played at the SCG on December 8.

Virat Kohli was a happy captain in the post-match chat and said, “We played really well as a team in T20 cricket. The fact that two of our established players (Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah) are not playing and to win like this, makes me very proud of this team.”

He reserved special praise for Hardik Pandya, given his amazing run of form in the ODIs and now a match-winning knock in the T20Is as well.

“Hardik finishing off the game and Shikhar getting that fifty, it's a whole team effort. The reason for him (Hardik) to come into our team in 2016 was the pure ability, he now realizes that this is the time to establish in that (finishing) role and play match-winning knocks for us. He plays with all his heart and he certainly got that competitive nature about him and also has the skill to execute that at the highest level,” Kohli said.

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He also teased his RCB mate AB de Villiers in the interview, as he talked about the third and last T20I of the series.

“That's (next game) gonna be very exciting. In the tough moments, when so many people backing you, the next game is going to be exciting. It (scoop over fine leg) was a bit of funny moment, surprised myself there, I will send AB a text tonight and see what he thinks of it,” Kohli signed off.

(Cricbuzz inputs)