Pant’s presence could have changed first T20I’s outcome: Kohli

TIL Desk Sports/ India skipper Virat Kohli felt stumper Rishabh Pant’s wicket was the turning point in their narrow 4-run loss to Australia in the rain-affected first T20 International at the Gabba here on Wednesday. Australia rode on a collective top order effort to post 158/4 in 17 overs before the target was readjusted to 174 for India under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Dinesh Karthik and Pant were responsible for bringing India’s chase back to life after hammering Andrew Tye for 25 runs in the 14th over. However, the latter’s dismissal bought the home side back in contest. “It was a close game, 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,” Kohli said at the post-match presentation.

The India skipper also praised opener Shikhar Dhawan, who top scored for the tourists with a 42-ball 76, laced with 10 fours and two sixes. “He’s (Dhawan) 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,” the 30-year-old opined.