The Indian cricket team registered a stellar win against arch-rivals Pakistan in the high-voltage clash in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 in Melbourne Cricket Ground. While the whole game turned out to be an absolute treat for the fans, however, it was the last over drama between India and Pakistan that will stay in the minds of fans and players alike for a few days. The last over became the game’s highlight as it had everything – a no-ball, a free hit, two wides, a couple of wickets, a six, a triple that to a bye, and the street smartness of the veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to see India through.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who is known for his presence of mind and for his outstanding knowledge of the game, walked in to bat when just one ball was remaining as team India had lost the big wicket of their in-form finisher Dinesh Karthik on the previous delivery.
The Indian side needed two runs off the last delivery but Mohammad Nawaz bowled it outside the leg stump. Ashwin remained alert and to everyone’s surprise, instead of getting greedy to hit the ball, he quietly stayed in the line of the stumps and let it go towards the keeper for a wide. On the last delivery, Pakistan brought the field in and Ashwin lofted the ball over mid-off as India won the thrilling match by 4 wickets. Virat Kohli, who played a match-winning knock of 82* runs off 53 balls, showered praises on Ashwin for his presence of mind and game knowledge saying that he used his brain to let the ball go. He said:
“Jab apko 15-16 run ki run-rate chahiye aur 2 ball mein 2 run pe a jaye, toh log shayad relax ya over-excited bhi ho sakte hai ki ban gye. You know fir DK Run-out ho gye or Stumping, jo bhi bolenge aap” (which roughly translates to: When you need runs at a run rate of 15-16 and it comes down to 2 balls 2 runs, then people may get relaxed or over-excited that work is all done. And then DK got run out or stumped, whatever you call that.)
He added: “But fir Aish ko maine bola ki covers ke upar marne dekhna, lekin aish ne apne dimaag ke upar extra dimaag lagaya, aur matlab that was a very brave thing to do. He came inside the line, wide krwadi, uske baad toh situation ye reh gyi ki gap mein gyi toh hum jeet jayenge match” (which roughly translates to: But then I told Aish to look for hitting over covers, however, he used more brain over his own brain and I mean that was a very brave thing to do. He came inside the line, made the bowler bowl wide, and then the situation was like if the ball goes into the gap, we are going to win the game,)
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