Virat Kohli equals Rohit Sharma in a T20I record in India's 12-run loss to Australia in Sydney

Virat Kohli, who scored his 25th half-century in the Twenty20 International (T20Is) on Tuesday, equalled Rohit Sharma in a T20I record.

Kohli and Rohit have now scored more fifty or fifty-plus scores than any other

batsmen in the T20Is – 25. Next on the list is Australia's David Warner (19), Ireland's Paul Sterling (18), New Zealand opening batsman Martin Guptill (17), and Pakistan captain Babar Azam (16).

The Indian skipper Kohli achieved the record during India's chase of 187 in the third T20I against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Kohli, who is yet to score a century in the T20Is, scored 61-ball 85. En route his 25th half-century in the T20Is, Kohli struck four fours and three sixes.

In-form Hardik Pandya once again looked good with the bat, but Australia ensured he did not join the party. Australian skipper Aaron Finch brought Adam Zampa back into the attack in the 18th over and the spinner did the job by removing Pandya for 20 off 13 and that dismissal left India at 144 for 5. In the following over, Andrew Tye took Australia closer to a victory by dismissing the big fish – Kohli. In the end, India fell short by 12 runs and missed an opportunity to become the first team to whitewash Australia in a T20I series (minimum 3 matches).

Kohli blamed the middle order phase during their chase for India's loss on Tuesday. He also stated that he believes the current side was stronger than the last touring side that had recorded India's maiden Test series win Down Under.

"At one stage when Hardik started going, we thought we could pull it off. The middle over phase during our batting cost us the game. A partnership of 30-odd would've made it easier for Hardik. We are finding ways to come back and give the opposition a scare and the series win is a little asterisk for us to finish the 2020 season on a high. I feel the crowd was a factor as well, it's always giving you a dimension of motivation. Our crowd pulls us through sometimes, and Australia's too, and we as players feed off the crowd's energy.

We need to take the same competitive attitude into the Tests, and having played here a few times, we can score runs as well. Once it's time to capitalize and score, we need to do that session by session. I'm sure the current side is stronger than last time (Test matches) and I'll see if I can play the tour match," added Kohli at the post-match presentation in Sydney.

The first Test is set to begin on Dec. 17 at the Adelaide Oval. Before that, India and Australia will play the second practice match in Sydney. The first tour game, which was played between Dec. 6 and 8, ended in a draw. Kohli will return to India after the first Test after being granted a paternity leave to be with his wife for the birth of their first child.