Australian all-rounder Cameron Green said that he really enjoyed the new challenge of opening the innings, thanks to skipper Aaron Finch, during his team’s 4-wicket win over India in the first T20I on Tuesday in Mohali.

Green was asked to open the innings for the first time in his T20I career and he made the most of his opportunity by smashing a stunning knock of 61 runs off 30 balls studded with eight fours and four sixes.

He was also involved in two crucial partnerships with Finch (22) and Steve Smith (35) against India.

The star all-rounder added 39 runs off 21 balls and then added 70 off 40 balls for the second wicket with Smith to put Australia in a commanding position while chasing 209 for victory against India.

Later, Matthew Wade played an unbeaten knock of 45 to take Australia over the line with four balls to spare.

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Cameron Green said at the post-match presser: “I was thrown into the deep end (opening for the first time) but having someone like Finchy (Aaron Finch) as an experienced campaigner, he kept me calm.”

The Aussie also revealed that the tourists watched Hardik Pandya (71*) bat to get an idea about how to go about the chase in the match and that it really helped them in Mohali.

Green further noted, “We had the luxury of seeing the Indians bat and Hardik must be one of the best in what he does, it was a pleasure to watch him. It was kind of good to watch them bat, and that gave us an idea about how to go about while chasing.”

He wasn’t sure whether he would continue to play as an opener in the remaining two matches of the T20I series against India, the second of which will be played in Nagpur on September 23.

Green signed off by saying, “I have no idea. I’ll leave it up to the coaches to think about that.”

(With NEWS18 Inputs)