Kohli praises Pandya after India win opener

Skipper Virat Kohli hailed Hardik Pandya’s game-changing performance on Sunday after the all-rounder powered India to a 26-run win over Australia in the rain-hit first one-day international.

Pandya smashed a 66ball 83 and claimed two wickets to give the hosts a 1-0 lead in the five-match series at Chennai’s M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.

Chasing a revised target of 164 in 21 overs after rain delays, Australia were frustrated by wrist spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, who shared five wickets between them. They ended on 137-9.

But it was Pandya’s gritty 118-run sixth-wicket stand with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who made 79, that lifted India from a top-order collapse to 281-7 in 50 overs.

“He [Hardik] believes in himself. That is the key in international cricket. Hardik’s innings was the gamechanger. He is smart with the ball as well,” said Kohli.

“He possesses all three skills (batting, bowling and fielding) equally and we are lucky to have him,” Kohli added.

In reply, the visitors had to wait for two hours to start their shortened chase as constant drizzle threatened to spoil the contest.

Pacemen Jasprit Bumrah and Pandya combined to hurt Australia’s hopes of reaching a tricky target with three early strikes including skipper Steve Smith for one.