This week on Follow The Blues, Abhishek Malhan, aka Fukra Insaan, recounted his thrilling journey from India to Sri Lanka to see the Super 4 match between India and Pakistan, two of cricket’s most bitter rivals. Abhishek, like millions of other cricket fans, wanted nothing more than to see a match that would go down in cricket history as one of the greatest ever played.
Abhishek’s enthusiasm and eagerness were evident when he arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Mother Nature, however, had other ideas, as dark clouds gathered over the cricket spectacular. Abhishek was caught in the middle of the storm, much to the chagrin of the impatient spectators who had come to see the game.
Abhishek’s trip was about more than simply seeing India and Pakistan battle it out on the pitch. He spoke of his deep wish to see the current cricketing icon Virat Kohli get a century under the bright lights. The fates conspired to grant Abhishek his desire.
While Kohli and Rahul batted in the 90s, Abhishek and his management clung to superstition and refused to leave the pitch. Cricket’s mysterious allure leads some devotees to go to extremes in the name of good luck for their favourite teams and players. The weather may have hampered things, but India still put up an impressive show. An opening partnership of 121 runs between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill laid the groundwork for a formidable score. India’s score of 356 for 2 in 50 overs is impressive.
The unbeaten 233-run stand for the third wicket between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul was a testament to the two players’ respective batting abilities at the height of their careers. Kohli, in his usual dominant fashion, struck his 47th ODI century with an unbeaten 122 off 94 balls.
Virat Kohli Fulfilled Fukra Insaan’s Biggest Wish
The importance of Virat Kohli’s century in this game cannot be overstated. The fact that he reached 13,000 runs in one-day internationals faster than even the great Sachin Tendulkar is a credit to his cricketing brilliance. Furthermore, this was Kohli’s fourth consecutive century at the Premadasa Stadium, solidifying his status as the undisputed king of the ground.
KL Rahul, wanting to be outdone, has secured a permanent place for himself in cricket lore. It was his first century in one-day internationals since March of 2021 when he scored a hundred against England, and his first against Pakistan, his bitter enemies.
Pakistan, on the other hand, was in a state of chaos. They were unable to get any traction while trying to catch up to a massive objective of 357 runs. The Indian bowlers, headed by Jasprit Bumrah, quickly got to work on the Pakistani batting order, removing many vital players. The ball that Hardik Pandya bowled to remove Babar Azam was so perfect that it stunned cricket fans everywhere.
Abhishek Malhan as Fukra Insaan talking about on Virat Kohli. He said – “I came here only to see Virat Kohli’s Hundred and now my wish has been fulfilled”.
– King Kohli is everyone’s favourite, The GOAT. pic.twitter.com/M0lady83zQ
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) September 12, 2023
It was clear that Pakistan was hopelessly outclassed as the game went on. Pakistan’s hopes were much worse when Shardul Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav started picking up wickets. The Pakistani squad seemed disinterested and unable to put up much of a fight against Kohli and Rahul.
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Abhishek Malhan’s trip from India to Sri Lanka to see the Super 4 match between India and Pakistan is indicative of the universal appeal of the sport. Despite the weather, Abhishek was able to see Virat Kohli get a century, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Fans of cricket all around the globe will remember this match forever because of Kohli’s historic century and Rahul’s remarkable feat. It was a game in which India clearly demonstrated its superiority, erasing any doubts about the team’s cricketing abilities.
