India Vs. Australia: Virat Kohli clinches special record that eluded MS Dhoni
Virat Kohli clinches special record that eluded MS Dhoni
Virat Kohli once again wrote history as the Indian captain after India defeated Australia in the second Twenty20 International (T20I) to secure the series.
India won the opening T20I of the three-match series by 11 runs before they defeated the hosts by six wickets in the second game on Sunday in Sydney to seal the series. With the T20I series victory Down Under, Kohli became the first India captain to triumph in a T20I series in South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia (SENA countries).
Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni, who was arguably the best limited-overs captain India ever had, led India to wins in all the ICC competitions – T20 World Cup, Cricket World Cup, and Champions Trophy. Even Dhoni was eluded of this particular record that Kohli clinched on Sunday. Under Dhoni's captaincy, India won the T20I series in South Africa and Australia, but could not do the same in New Zealand and England.
Kohli led India to a T20I series victory in South Africa and England in 2018. Earlier in 2020, India thrashed New Zealand 5-0 in an away series before claiming the ongoing T20I series in Australia with a game to spare to complete the quartet.
The 32-year-old Kohli also became the first India captain to clinch series victories in all the three formats Down Under. Overall, Kohli was the second skipper after South Africa's Faf du Plessis to do so.
During India's previous tour of Australia, in 2018-19, Kohli helped India win their maiden Test series on the Australian soil, and thereby, he had also become the first captain from Asia to achieve the feat. Following the historic Test series victory, the Kohli-led India had also defeated the hosts in the three-match ODI series 2-1 after losing the opening game.
In the ongoing tour, Team India took off on a poorer note after losing the ODI series 2-1. Australia claimed the 50-over format series by winning the first two games before losing the dead rubber by only 13 runs to India at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.
The Indian team is unbeaten in as many as 11 consecutive T20Is now and with the third and final T20I set to be played on Tuesday, Kohli's side will look to continue their winning momentum. India will look to go into the all-important Test series with high morale. The first Test, which is going to be India's first day-night overseas game, will start on Dec. 17 at the Adelaide Oval. That will be followed by the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the New Year's Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), and the final Test at the Gabba in Brisbane.