After Virat Kohli produced one of the most remarkable innings in the history of the shortest format against Pakistan on Sunday  (October 23) in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022, the cricketing world showered him with accolades, not the least of which came from legendary spinner Anil Kumble.

The Men in Blue were struggling at 31/4 while chasing 160 when Kohli and Hardik Pandya stitched together a 113-run partnership in 78 balls, turning the tide in India's favor.

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Even though ‘King' Kohli initially had difficulty finding the gaps, he persisted till the very end and finally unleashed himself on the Pakistani bowlers in the 17th over effectively sealing a 4-wicket victory over the arch-rivals.

Kumble was very pleased with the 33-year-old’s performance and how he was able to clear the fence towards the back end of the innings.

“What Virat has changed in the last two years, to what we are seeing him do now, is that change in his mind in terms of when to get those boundaries towards the second half of his game and that’s exactly what he did."

“He did that to Shadab (Khan), he did that to (Mohammad) Nawaz, he hit a six after Hardik (Pandya) had hit a six. He realized that over (12th over from Nawaz that went for 20 runs) had to be a big over and that’s where the momentum shifted (for him)," said Kumble on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time Out show after the match ended.

Although Kohli did much of the heavy lifting throughout the innings, Pandya held the fort at the other end and smashed every loose delivery that came his way. The all-rounder after taking three crucial wickets, played responsibly for 37-ball 40.

The former cricketer added that Kohli’s innings was played to perfection and also praised Pandya for handling the pressure while they were batting together.

“I thought it (the innings of Kohli) was (played) to perfection because Hardik was at the other end and Hardik took all the pressure in those middle overs, hitting key boundaries, especially to the spinners. That had been sort of his bane a couple of years ago. Especially in the middle overs, hitting boundaries, hitting sixes to spinners." he remarked.

The Men in Blue’s next assignment is against the Netherlands in Sydney on Thursday (October 27).

(ESPNcricinfo Inputs)