Good to begin World T20 preparations with win: Kohli

Adelaide, Jan 26. Declared Man of the Match for his quickfire unbeaten 90, India star batsman Virat Kohli said he was happy to begin preparations for the forthcoming World Twenty20 with a comfortable 37-run victory over Australia in the first of the three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket series at the Adelaide Oval here on Tuesday. The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in March-April in India.

Young pacer Jasprit Bumrah starred on his T20I debut by picking up three wickets for 23 runs, while another debutant, Hardik Pandya, bagged 2/37. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja was also equally effective, picking two wickets for 21 runs in four overs. Asked to bat, India scored 188/3 in 20 overs, thanks to Virat Kohli's powerful innings of 90 not out from 55 deliveries and Suresh Raina's 41.

In reply, the hosts were bowled out for 151 in 19.3 overs. Captain Aaron Finch was Australia's highest scorer with a 44. "I really like playing here, would like to take the pitch to everywhere I go. Happy that our T20 World Cup preparation starts from here with a win, we will go on from this game," Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony. "It was a good batting strip, the ball came nicely onto the bat, I could play my shots. The crowd have been brilliant as well, they have supported us very well right throughout the tour," the 27-year-old added.

Agency