Former India captain and champion batter, Virat Kohli reflected on his spectacular match-winning knock against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the 2022 T20I World Cup. In a match that seemed out of India's reach at one stage was completely turned on its head by Kohli's magic with the bat. Kohli played an unbeaten knock of 82 runs off 53 balls with the help of six fours and four sixes and rolled out India's path to an unbelievable victory.
The scenes at the MCG after India's win were magical. The picture of Rohit Sharma lifting Kohli in the middle of the ground is still fresh in the minds of Indian fans.
Reacting to the magical knock and India's win, Kohli said that he had never seen Rohit express so much in 15 years of playing cricket together.
"I have played cricket with Rohit Sharma for a long period of time and I have never seen him express so much. That was a very emotional moment," Kohli said on star sports.
India vs Pakistan: 2022 T20 World Cup
In India's pursuit of a target of 160 runs, they found themselves in a precarious situation early on. Captain Rohit and opener KL Rahul departed cheaply, leaving them at 4/31 in just 6.1 overs. Suryakumar Yadav, coming in at No. 4, also fell for 15, further deepening India's troubles against a fired-up Pakistan fast-bowling attack in the T20 World Cup.
Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya then combined forces to rescue India from this dire situation. They formed a crucial partnership for the 4th wicket, amassing 113 runs and rekindling India's hopes in the match.
Despite their efforts, the early setbacks took their toll as India struggled to maintain the required run rate. With 48 runs needed from the last 3 overs, the presence of Virat Kohli on the crease kept the hopes alive for numerous Indian fans.
In the 18th over, Kohli took on the young bowler Shaheen Afridi, smashing three boundaries and reducing the equation to 31 runs from 12 balls. The crowd watched in disbelief as Kohli showcased his class.
As the match entered the 19th over, India needed a couple of sixes, but Haris Rauf proved to be a tough nut to crack, conceding only 3 runs in the first four deliveries. With 28 runs required from the final 8 balls, the odds seemed against India, and some Pakistan fans at the MCG started celebrating.
However, Kohli refused to concede defeat. He delivered two remarkable sixes with audacious shots on the last two balls of the 19th over, leaving everyone, including Haris Rauf, stunned.
Heading into the last over, India needed 16 runs, but Hardik Pandya was dismissed on the very first delivery, leaving Ravichandran Ashwin to partner with Kohli. In a nerve-wracking finish, Kohli smashed another six in the final over before Ashwin hit the winning runs that sealed India's win.
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