In the IND vs PAK game of several ebbs and flows, it was ‘King’ Virat Kohli who had the last laugh as the former India skipper struck 82* runs off 53 balls in the chase of 160, which India completed on the last ball of the match.
Seemingly, the game still lent on Pakistan’s side when India needed 48 runs in the last 18 balls, chasing the target of 160. Kohli and Hardik Pandya both were set, but the latter was finding it difficult to hit the pacers’ hard lengths.
Kohli took the job on his shoulders and used his incredible wrists and the gift of timing and carved three fours to Shaheen Afridi.
With 28 needed off 8 balls, Kohli produced a shot that will be remembered forever and has been stitched in the memory of the fans. Kohli picked up Rauf’s slower length ball, which was still climbing, moved back a pace, and deposited it back over the bowler’s head for a grand six! India needed another hit to the fence on the last ball, and Kohli did the dutiful, walloping Rauf for another maximum on the leg side.
Hardik Pandya screamed in delight from the other end. It was pandemonium at the MCG. Even Kohli himself couldn’t hold showing emotions and reacted animatedly after hitting the second six by fist pumping in the air.
You can watch the two sixes of Kohli to Rauf and the batsman’s amazing reaction that followed:
There was plenty of drama in the final over, bowled by left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz. With 16 runs required, Hardik was out first ball. When Kohli got the strike, he sent another six on the leg side, and it was called a no-ball for height. On the free hit, Nawaz bowled Kohli, but the ball went to the vacant third man and the pair ran three byes.
With 2 runs needed off the last ball, Nawaz bowled a wide to Ashwin, who then hit a lofted shot over mid-off to scamper for a single and seal the victory in which Kohli and Hardik shared a partnership of 113 runs in 78 balls.
