India displayed a superlative performance against Australia in the second T20I at Canberra to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series on Sunday. Happy with the team’s all-around performance, Kohli, in a post-match conference, said, “We played really well as a team in T20 cricket.”

“The fact that two of our established players are not playing and to win like this, makes me very proud of this team. Everyone has played 14 games recently (in the IPL) and they know their plans. Natarajan was outstanding and Shardul was good today,” Kohli said.

“That’s (next game) gonna be very exciting. In the tough moments, when so many people backing you, the next game is going to be exciting,” Kohli spoke about the third and final T20I match.

“Hardik finishing off the game and Shikhar getting that fifty, it’s a whole team effort. The reason for him (Hardik) to come into our team in 2016 was pure ability, he now realises that this is the time to establish in that (finishing) role and play match-winning knocks for us. He plays with all his heart and he certainly got that competitive nature about him and also has the skill to execute that at the highest level,” Kohli heaped praise on Hardik Pandya.