Virat Kohli stamped his authority with yet another sublime innings of career-best 94 not out as India pulled off their highest successful run chase in a T20 International to beat West Indies by six wickets in the first match here on Friday. KL Rahul also struck an impressive 62 off just 40 balls to help India chase down the target of 208 with eight balls to spare. The earlier highest successful run chase for India in a T20I was the 207 against Sri Lanka in Mohali in 2009. India, thus, took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The second T20 International will be played in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. Opening the innings in the absence of injured Shikhar Dhawan, Rahul played fluently to score his seventh T20I fifty, during which he hit five boundaries and four sixes to make a case for himself to be in India's squad for next year's T20 World Cup. (SCORECARD)
Highlights Between India vs West Indies 1st T20I, straight from Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
Virat Kohli once again was not in total control but his top edge sailed over deep backward square leg fence, giving him six runs. He follows that up with a boundary towards deep mid-wicket.
Pressure is mounting over Indian skipper Virat Kohli and the last shot he played only made it clear. Ever since he has come in to bat, he has tried to hit the ball with power rather than his usual strength which is timing.
Virat Kohli goes for power rather than timing and almost clipped his own stumps as the thick inside edge went just inches away. Nevertheless, what matters is that the miscued shot gave India four runs.
Virat Kohli makes some room for himself by moving towards the leg stump, Khary Pierre bowls right into his arc and Kohli goes inside out towards the deep extra cover and collects four runs.
KL rahul Planst his leg and dispatches Khary Pierre's short ball over deep square leg deep into the stands for another six. With this shot, Rahul also completed his 1,000 T20I runs.
Khary Pierre bowls full on the pads and Rohit Sharma hits it straight to the deep midwicket fielder where Shimron Hetmyer makes no mistake and grabs it with both hands.
KL Rahul collects third boundary of the over as his cut shot races away to the fence after beating the backward point fielder. There was a slight width but Rahul made most of it using his strong bottom-hand.
A good of length ball from Jason Holder, Kl Rahul goes for a pull but the height was not quite there. His inside edge beat the short fine leg fielder and races away to the fence.
A juicy full-toss from Sheldon Cottrell but Rohit Sharma hits it straight to the covers field. It was golden opportunity for him to collect his first boundary.
Jason Holder smashes over Bhuvneshwar Kumar's head and Virat Kohli manages to get only one hand to the ball and it rolls over fence after taking one bounce.
India Cricket Team
West Indies Cricket Team
Virat Kohli
Kieron Pollard
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad