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Published 10:07 IST, September 19th 2019

Virat Kohli slays more records, becomes highest run-getter in T20s

India skipper Virat Kohli led India's successful run-chase in the second T20 at Mohali on Wednesday, scoring 72 runs en route to his unbeaten knock till the end

Reported by: Koushik Narayanan
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India skipper Virat Kohli led India's successful run-chase in the second T20 at Mohali on Wednesday, scoring 72 runs en route to his unbeaten knock till the very end of the chase. Virat Kohli, along with Shikhar Dhawan, added a crucial partnership that saw India grab a victory with seven wickets left. Chasing the target of 150 runs, India lost opener, Rohit Sharma, early in the innings following which Dhawan and Kohli steadied the ship for India and ensured a safe passage to victory. Virat Kohli broke more records en route to his match-winning knock, making himself an immortal of the game with each passing contest. 

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King Kohli becomes highest run-getter in T20s

With his 22nd T20 50, Virat Kohli became the batsman with the highest number of half-centuries in T20s - with 22 fifties and more to go. Further, the Indian skipper also became the player to have scored the most runs in men's T20 cricket, taking his tally to 2441 runs in T20Is. Earlier in the contest, Virat Kohli took an absolute stunner to get rid of Quinton de Kock. The Indian skipper was adjudged Man of the Match for his magnificent knock and Virat Kohli expressed immense pride in representing the country. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Virat Kohli said that he put the team before himself and said that it was the badge and the blue jersey that motivated him to be consistent. Virat Kohli revealed that success was all about adapting to all formats of the game and that his aim was to always get the team across the line no matter what it takes for him to do it. Virat Kohli was all praise for the team's bowlers and said that they had done a great job in reducing the Proteas to just 149-5 in 20 overs. 

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Bowlers make the difference

In the post-match presentation, Kohli said, "Bowlers showed a lot of character. The pitch was very good and they got off to a good start so it was an outstanding effort from the bowler to pull the game back from us. That's exactly what we're looking at, try out new people and see who stands up under pressure." De Kock said, "I think we got off to a good start. Towards the end, they bowled pretty well, they understood the conditions a lot quicker than we did. There was a lot of pressure coming in for some of the new guys and I thought they played really well. Obviously we didn't get a winning start but I thought they held their nerve very well." This was the first match of South Africa's tour of India after the first T20I in Dharamsala was washed out. The third and final T20I will be played at Bengaluru on Sunday.

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09:49 IST, September 19th 2019