After Virat Kohli's Brilliant 90, Spinners Help India Clinch Adelaide Twenty20 vs Australia

Debutant Hardik Pandya was on a hat-trick and spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets apiece as India scored a 37-run win in the opening Twenty20 international in Adelaide on Tuesday. India, aided by a brilliant 90 not out by Virat Kohli, scored an impressive 188 for three after being asked to bat first.(Scorecard | Highlights)

Australia's middle order collapsed in stunning fashion after skipper Aaron Finch (44 off 33 balls) and Steven Smith (21 off 14 balls) left in quick succession. Ashwin (2/28) and Jadeja (2/21) put the brakes on the Australian batsmen who played poor strokes to get ahead of the climbing run-rate.

Pandya, whose opening bowler was 11-ball long and cost 19 runs, made a good comeback with the wickets of Chris Lynn and Matthew Wade as Australia were clearly losing the plot. Bumrah (3/23) and veteran Ashish Nehra (1/30) bowled tight spells in the death as India won with three balls to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Man of the Match Kohli smashed 90 runs from 55 balls to lead India to 188 for three. Kohli continued his impressive form from the one-day series, hitting nine fours and two sixes in a powerful display.

"Everything came together nicely. Want to take Adelaide Oval everywhere I go. Our preparation for World T20 has started on a nice note," said Kohli after the match.

Kohli was given good support from recalled batsman Suresh Raina (41) with the pair putting on 134 for the third wicket. The Australians missed partnerships in a big chase.

Rohit Sharma got India to a lightning start, hitting 31 from 20 balls before he mistimed a pull shot off Shane Watson and was caught at mid-on by James Faulkner.

Watson had Shikhar Dhawan (5) caught by wicketkeeper Matthew Wade two balls later to leave the Indians on 41 for two, but Kohli and Raina were untroubled until Raina was bowled by Faulkner in the final over.

But captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni came to the crease and hit a six and a four from his first two balls to take India to a big total.

The second match will be played in Melbourne on Friday.

(With input from agencies)