Some are saying, Virat Kohli is back! Well, when was he gone? Those who doubted probably the best-ever white-ball player aka the chase master just don’t get cricket. And the former India captain showed why against Pakistan in India’s opening fixture at the T20 World Cup 2022. After India lost KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav early, many did not give India a chance. But Kohli was not there for a walk.
The batter planned things and executed them to perfection to seal a 4-wicket win for the Men in Blue. He lost partners at regular intervals but did not flinch even once. Kohli started slow but that was the demand of the situation. He built his innings and broke the shackles when it was needed. Kohli got to his 34th half-century in T20Is in 43 balls. But the job was not done yet and the former India captain knew. So, he just kept knocking Pakistan bowlers around.
The 33-year-old smacked Haris Rauf for two consecutive sixes on his last two balls of the spell and kept India alive in the contest. Hardik Pandya was expected to take down Mohammad Nawaz but he could not. So, the onus was back on Kohli who once again stood up. He smacked Nawaz for a six and brought India back into the contest. Eventually, Kohli finished with an unbeaten 82 off 53 balls with the help of six fours and four sixes.
Watch Kohli’s fabulous knock here:
Such was the innings from Kohli that he could not believe himself. “It's a surreal atmosphere, I have no words, no idea how that happened. I am really lost for words. Hardik believed we can do it, if we stayed till the end,” were Kohli’s words after he was adjudged Man of the Match.