After weeks of speculations and uncertainty there would finally be an India-Pakistan game. ICC loves it and so do the fans from both countries. The arch-rivals no longer clash in bilateral series because of geopolitical tensions, hence, an ICC event brings the two nations face to face on a cricket field. An arrangement that keeps everyone happy.
India no longer calls it a rivalry with marked difference in terms of cricketing skills between the two teams in the recent past. But try telling that to the fans. Like the past editions of the tournament this would be any other India vs Pakistan clash at a neutral venue but the expectations from its outcome would be no different.
In a few hours time it would be India vs Pakistan at the ICC T20 World Cup in Colombo that would take centre stage. A celebration of cricket, carnival-like scenes with fans flocking the stadium in numbers, however, the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma would be immensely felt. When it comes to the greatest of matches ever played in the storied rivalry of India vs Pakistan in T20 World Cups, Kohli’s heroics in the 2022 edition deserves a noteworthy mention where he mesmerised Melbourne with a spectacular knock.
The backdrop of an upcoming India vs Pakistan encounter serves as a right setting to play back that thriller of a match, laced with all the drama and emotions.
After opting to bowl, India did well to restrict Pakistan to 159 for 8, a score easily achievable. But India had early jitters with Pakistan pace attack led by Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah making early inroads, reducing India to 31 for 4 inside the first seven overs.
KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav fell early, soon after Axar Patel was run out, leaving India in tatters and the target suddenly starting to feel massive.
However, with Kohli and Hardik Pandya at the crease would have calmed the nerves of Indian fans as both the batters started consolidating the innings. India clawed back into the game and saw a chance when a 113-run partnership was stitched between the two.
Despite the partnership, Pakistan still had an upper-hand with India needing 48 runs from the last three overs. But in the 19th over, Kohli shifted the momentum by striking two sixes off Rauf, who was bowling with intent. The first six, a back-foot punch over long-on, a shot that left everyone in awe, which was later dubbed by the ICC as the ‘Shot of the Century’. The second six was a flick over fine-leg that brought down the equation to 16 runs off the final over.
Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz came on to bowl the final over, and he struck the very first ball by dismissing Pandya (40 off 37 balls). The fourth delivery, a waist-high no-ball, Kohli hit it over the ropes for a six. Off the free-hit delivery, India picked three byes. There was more drama as Dinesh Karthik was stumped with India still needing two runs off two balls. R Ashwin takes strike and calmly lets go a wide delivery before playing the final delivery over mid-off for a four to seal the win. The MCG crowd jumped to its feet with Kohli remaining unbeaten on 82 off 53 balls.
This India-Pakistan clash would always be remembered as one of the thrilling contests between the two nations where Kohli played one of the finest knocks of his career under tremendous pressure.
