Virat Kohli who has received a lot of criticism over the last few months for his poor performance has now regained his name back with an unforgettable knock against Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022.
Virat Kohli who led India to a 10-wicket defeat against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2021 has now made an impressive match-winning knock against the same team in T20 World Cup 2022 and made everyone forget his past mistake.
Ravi Shastri On Kohli’s Knock Against Pakistan
Speaking on India vs Pakistan match on October 23 in Melbourne, India won the toss and opted to bowl first.
Babar Azam and M Rizwan who were considered the pillars of the Pakistan cricket team failed to score the expected runs and lose their wicket for 0 and 4 respectively to Arshdeep Singh.
With Masood and Iftikhar Ahmed’s impressive knocks, Pakistan managed to score 159 runs for 8 wickets.
As of Pakistan, India too loses their prime players Rohit, KL Rahul, and Suryakumar Yadav for 4, 4, and 15 runs respectively. Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya walk in when India almost loses their hope of winning the match. Virat and Hardik made an impressive 113 runs partnership for their next wicket.
“In all my years of playing and watching India vs Pakistan, those two sixes off Haris Rauf are two of the greatest shots played by an Indian batsman. The only comparison is Sachin Tendulkar’s six off Shoaib Akhtar in Centurion in the 2003 World Cup.
These are two of the greatest cricketers of our time. Tendulkar’s knock had some of the most magnificent shots played in white-ball cricket against Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar. And then this Kohli knock. These two are the biggest knocks I have seen where quality fast bowling has been taken apart,” Shastri told the Indian Express.
Virat Kohli’s back-to-back six of the 19th over bowled by Haris Rauf increased India’s hope for winning. But Nawaz dismissed Hardik off the first ball of the final over and makes the final over as thrilling as possible. Nawaz bowled a highish full toss which Virat redirect to cross the boundary ropes.
The boundary loads pressure over the bowler which makes him bowl wide of the next ball which adds positivity to the Indian side with 2 needs of the last delivery, R Ashwin made a bold move by staying in the crease and leaving the ball which turned down leg after pitching and resulting in wide.
After the scores are leveled, Ashwin lofts it over mid-off and scored the required one run, and leads India to a historic win.
Further talking about that knock, Shastri said: “Perhaps, it’s best to start with a feeling that I didn’t have when I was watching the greatest T20 knock by Virat: I wasn’t surprised. I was waiting for this to happen.
I knew this would happen in Australia. Just check his record here – the pitches suit him plus he loves playing on these grounds and in front of the fans here. His record against Pakistan has always been good and it was a big situation: cometh the hour, cometh the stage, cometh the man.”
A packed MCG chanting for Virat Kohli 🏟
Raw vision: Behind the scenes of India’s sensational win 📹
Goosebumps. #T20WorldCup | #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/MNjmOLKO7r
— ICC (@ICC) October 23, 2022
Virat Kohli scored a match-winning knock of unbeaten 82 runs off 53 balls and leads India to a memorable win against Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022.
“I got emotional when it was all unfolding. I have seen what he has gone through in the last couple of years. We all know the recent context. Did I have something to say to him at the end? Frankly, not a thing.
We are a country with short memories; topi masters of the world! We flip, change in two minutes. Kohli knows what I feel. I know what he feels. What’s there to be said? Not a thing,” he stated further.
Lastly, speaking about the former India captain, Shastri concluded by saying: “For the cricketing world, he was a superstar even before the knock; now let them decide what he is to them. I am not going to put in words for them.
What’s next for Virat Kohli? I have no expectations, just let him enjoy his life. The media and critics have put enough pressure on this uncut diamond and he showed who he is. Chup kar diya na sabko?! (He has silenced everyone, right),” said Shastri.
India will play their next match against the Netherlands on October 27 in Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney.
