You think you had seen the best of Virat Kohli in the past decade. And then he produced an epic knock. One to remember. One for the ages. One which he himself said he would rate higher than that Mohali innings against Australia in 2016.
Chasing 160, India found itself reeling at 31/4 as the Pakistani fast bowlers breathed fire and sent one batsman after another packing. The spinners then, Shadab and Nawaz, put a stronghold on the already under-the-pump Indian duo of Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli.
After 11 overs India was 54/4 and a Pakistani win looked more likely. The pair then stepped on the paddle with three sixes in Nawaz’s over a boundary each in the next three overs. Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah then delivered two good overs to leave India needing 48 in the last 3 overs.
With Hardik Pandya struggling now to hit the pacers, Kohli brought out his best. He stroked Shaheen Afridi for three fours in an over and then clattered Rauf for two sixes to bring the equation down to 16 runs needed in the last balls.
The last over turned out to be perhaps the most dramatic you’d have seen – it included a wicket, six off a no-ball, three byes off a free-hit where Kohli was bowled, another wicket but then Ashwin calmly chipped the last ball when one run was required to complete a memorable game.
Rohit Sharma lifted up Virat Kohli in the ground after the win
Such was the magnitude of the victory, the excellence of Kohli’s in a high-pressure run-chase that Rohit Sharma, the Indian skipper, ran out after India had won the game and lifted Kohli up in the middle of the ground!!
You can watch the video here:
Indian winning celebration 🎉🎉
INDIA won match after Rohit , Kohli celebration.#INDvsPAK2022#ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/XF4ERlVZbU— Shiv (@Shiv951254171) October 23, 2022
This is wholesome 😍😍
People divide Rohit Kohli and together they make us strong! pic.twitter.com/4nRFpguJIR— Shubham🇮🇳 (@10shubhamtweets) October 23, 2022
Virat Kohli said that Hardik kept telling him that they should take it deep and from thereon they could win the game. The pair shared a partnership of 113 runs in 78 balls keeping India alive after early wicket losses.
“It’s a surreal atmosphere, I have no words, no idea how that happened. I am really lost for words. Hardik believed we can do it, if we stayed till the end. When Shaheen bowled from the pavilion end, that’s when we decided to take him down. Haris is their prime bowler, and I hit those two sixes. The calculation was simple. Nawaz had one over to bowl, so if I could take Haris down, they would panic. From 28 in 8, it came down to 16 to 6. I tried to stick to my instincts. The first one was back of a hand slower ball (the one over long-on). Standing here I just feel like it was meant to be. Till today Mohali was my best innings against Australia. Today I will count this one higher. Hardik kept pushing me. The crowd has been phenomenal. You guys (fans) kept backing me and I am grateful for your support,” Kohli said collecting his Player of the Match award.
