SA v IND 2018: Virat Kohli applauds an all-round Indian team showing at Wanderers in 1st T20I

India defeated South Africa by 28 runs in the 1st T20I at Johannesburg.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up his first 5 wicket haul in T20Is | Getty

India defeated South Africa in the first T20I at Wanderers, Johannesburg to kick start the three match T20I series. The heroes for the Indian team proved to be Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan.

India captain Virat Kohli called the win "one of our most balanced performances". "This was one of our most balanced performances. We never let the run rate drop less than 10.5. I was thinking maybe 220 at the 16 over mark. The basic message to the team was we are here till 25th. We can't go away before that and have to make the best of every time here," Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Shikhar Dhawan smashed 72 off 39 balls to give India a flying start, along with Rohit who scored 21 off 9 balls.

Shikhar Dhawan | Getty

Very impressive from the boys. It was a good wicket to bat on. Although Rohit did not get many, but the start off 21 off 9 gave us the start. Shikhar was outstanding. It was a total team batting performance," said Kohli.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar became the first Indian pacer and second Indian bowler to pick a five wicket haul (5/24) in T20Is. He also became the first Indian bowler to pick up five wicket hauls in all the three international formats.

"With the ball, Bhuvi showed his experience. We could always bank on Jassi (Jasprit Bumrah) and Unadkat did well as well," added the Indian captain.

Kohli also gave an update on his leg injury, which happened during the 13th over of South African innings.

"The injury was early on in the innings when I went for the single. It was my glute and thankfully not my hammy. You know how I am, I had to bend bit more quickly. Then I felt a little bit more stiffness in my glute and that is why I went off. Not to be stupid and tear a muscle, I decided to go off and get it checked," said Kohli.

The second T20I will be played at Centurion on Wednesday.

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 19 Feb, 2018

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