Adelaide: Impressed with the performance of debutant Hardik Pandya in Tuesday’s T20 International against Australia, India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the youngster can lend the side the much-needed stability if he can perform consistently.
Read: Kohli, bowlers shine, India crush Australia by 37 runs
Pandya executed the yorkers well to contain the home batsmen when they looked to attack the Indian bowlers and ended up taking two wickets for 37 runs after struggling initially.
"We bowled superbly. I felt once he went through that first over he would bowl much better. He was executing the yorkers well, he was bowling the wide ball well. Overall it was good effort and I think they can give us the stability we desperately need," Dhoni said after the match.
We have a debutant here. Hardik Pandya has just received his maiden India cap from MS Dhoni #AusvInd
Posted by Indian Cricket Team on Monday, January 25, 2016
Asked if it pleases him that there were more than one factor in the team's 37-run win, the Indian captain nodded.
"It was a good game. Good to see our bowlers making the batsmen play the big shot. Rohit started well, followed by Virat and well supported by Raina. Then Ashish did a good job. That's very crucial because you want to win as a team," Dhoni said.
"Raina batted well. He and Yuvi have had just one net session, which is why I promoted myself ahead of Yuvraj."
VIDEO: Hardik Pandya talks about his preparation for the T20Is and the warm welcome he has received from the seniors in...
Posted by Indian Cricket Team on Monday, January 25, 2016
Home skipper Aaron Finch said his team's fielding was poor today and it did affect them badly. "We let ourselves in the field today. And a great innings from Virat. He is hard to stop when he gets going. We executed well with the ball, but let ourselves down with the fielding. 170 would have been a nice score. When we got our chance to bat, I slowed down a bit and cost ourselves a bit of momentum," he said.
Winners are grinners! @imVkohli is all smiles after receiving the MoM award for his knock of 90 not out #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/8bYoTv6Qxt
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 26, 2016
Man-of-the-match Virat Kohli, who scored an unbeaten 90, said, "I could take this stadium with me wherever I bat. I was just trying to keep things simple. I believe that in T20 as well. This stadium is right up there with anywhere in the world. I would love to thank the fans for coming out and supporting us."
