Virat Kohli’s match-winning knock against Pakistan during the T20 World Cup 2022 match at MCG will remain etched in the memories of cricket fans forever.
Chasing 160 to win, the Men in Blue were in dire straits at 31/4 after 6.1 overs. Amid the pressure situation, Kohli rose to the occasion as he smashed 82* off 53 balls and shared a 113-run stand with Hardik Pandya (40 off 37 balls) to script India’s nail-biting four-wicket victory.
Emotions were running so high in the Indian camp after that last-ball win that skipper Rohit Sharma, who is known for his calm demeanour, also celebrated the win in an animated manner.
Rohit came to the ground and lifted Kohli on his shoulders, much to the surprise of the cricket fans and experts alike.
Speaking to Star Sports, Virat Kohli recently said that he was taken aback by Rohit Sharma’s reaction.
“I’ve played with Rohit for a long period of time and I have not seen him express so much in many moments. So I think, it was a natural reaction for everyone including mine,” Kohli said.
The highlight of Kohli’s innings was the two sixes he smashed against Pakistan speedster Haris Rauf in the penultimate over of India’s innings. While the first hit was down the ground to a slower ball, the second maximum was a flick over square leg.
Besides Rauf, Pakistan’s pace battery also included Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah in that match in Melbourne.
“There was no extra preparation to face them because over the years you are used to 140, 145, 150 kmph bowling,” Kohli recalled.
“The only thing you need to do is to get into a mental space and get ready for the challenge,” he added.
India were at the receiving end of a 10-wicket thrashing against Pakistan in a group match of the 2021 T20 World Cup, but Kohli clarified that he wasn’t thinking about revenge.
“The defeat against Pakistan in 2021 never came to my mind (in 2022). Considering the big human error factor involved in sport, there is no guarantee that on a given day you will win,” Virat said.
“We were winning against Pakistan all those years but on that day, they outplayed us. There’s no shame in accepting that. It was a good reality check for everyone. We can’t play a match thinking we have to avenge a defeat in the past,” he remarked.
During the Asia Cup 2022, Kohli ended his nearly three-year-long century drought with a maiden T20I hundred against Afghanistan. The star batter feels that knock put him in a better mental space.
“If I was not playing well, then probably, I would have been a bit uneasy. But I scored my first T20I hundred in the Asia Cup and that brought me back into a contented space. I was not feeling desperate or nervous. I was just happy that I was able to play at such a big occasion once more,” he said.
