India captain Virat Kohli did not hold his emotions back as he guided the hosts to a thrilling win in the first T20 against the West Indies in Hyderabad on Friday.
Kohli scored an unbeaten 94 off just 50 balls to help the hosts reach the target of 208, making it the highest successful chase by the men in blue in the 20-over format. But it was far from a straightforward chase with Kohli edgy throughout the second innings that included a few heated moments with seamer Kesrick Williams.
The India captain struggled for timing in the first half of the innings, scoring at run-a-ball off his first 25 deliveries. But he managed to changed gears in the next 25, smashing six fours and as many sixes in all.
"All the young batsmen watching, don't follow the first half of my innings," Kohli said after the match. "Because that was really bad, I mean I was trying to hit the ball too hard. I think it was just about keeping up with the game. I wanted to contribute from the other end, striking at 140 at least. But I couldn't get going properly."
On more than one occasion, Kohli admonished himself for failing to get any timing in his shots. He also took exception to Williams blocking his his way as he attempted to take a single in the 13th over.
Kohli wasn't done. After dispatching Williams for a four and a six off successive balls in the 16th over, he mimicked the seamer's famous 'notebook' celebration of ticking off names after a dismissal.
The captain said he remembered the bowler's celebration from the last time he dismissed the India batsman in 2017.
"It happened to me in Jamaica when he got me out, so I thought I'll tick a few in the notebook as well," Kohli said.
All this has set the stage for more fireworks in the second T20 between the teams which will be played in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
