India vs Australia | We want three-four guys to stand up for the team on given day, says Virat Kohli

Chasing a target of 174 runs, India started off well with Shikhar Dhawan going after the Aussie bowlers at The Gabba. Although India lost the wickets of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli, Dhawan carried on with his stroke play and scored 76 off just 42 balls. Dinesh Karthik (30) and Rishabh Pant (20) also looked good in the middle-order and the visitors were in control when these two were at the crease. India finished with 169 with the home side winning the game by four runs via DLS method. According to the Indian captain, the team needs three-four players to turn the game in India’s favour on a given day.

“What we can do is learn from them and get back better. On the day, if we can have three-four guys to stand up for the team, that's what we want. Don't have much time to think of things, which can be a good thing as well as a bad thing,” Kohli said during the post-match presentation ceremony. 

The Aussies batted first and scored 158 in 17 overs as the first game of the series was a truncated one because of rain playing spoilsport in the 17th over of the Australian innings. Glenn Maxwell’s knock of 46 off 24 along with Marcus Stoinis’ 19-ball 33 took Australia to a formidable total in the end. The visitors were given a target of 174 to win after the DLS calculations at the end of the first innings. Although India failed to chase the target, the Indian skipper lauded the efforts of Dhawan and said that close games like this are always good for the crowd and the players. 

“It was a close game, exciting one for the crowd to watch and for the players as well. Was a see-saw battle. Started well with the bat, fumbled in the middle overs, in the end we thought we'll win with Pant and Karthik but it changed again with Pant's dismissal,” the Indian skipper said. 

“He (Dhawan) is a very strong player at the top of the order. Hasn't got a T20 hundred yet, but the way he plays it really benefits the team.”