Indian superstar Virat Kohli has played one of the greatest T20 innings of all time to guide his side to a famous win over Pakistan in a thrilling World Cup clash.
After being set 160 to win, India looked all at sea when it slumped to 4-31 in the run chase before an innings of epic proportions from the former captain.
Kohli finished the match unbeaten on 82 off just 53 deliveries, but was forced to watch from the non-striker’s end as Ravichandran Ashwin hit the winning runs off the final delivery of India’s innings to give his side a four-wicket victory.
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The 33-year-old was overcome with emotions after Ashwin hit the winning runs, triumphantly punching the MCG turf before appearing to fight back tears.
“You look at all the great wins over the years and I think you’ll find very few to compare to this one,” legendary Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle said.
“This match was gone and Virat Kohli pulled it back. What an absolute champion.
“I think I’m spotting a tear in Virat Kohli’s eyes. I’ve seen Virat Kohli play for so many years, I’ve seen some of his best innings, but I have not seen a tear in his eye and I think I spotted a tear.”
Kohli was understandably named the Player of the Match for his outstanding knock, and was left speechless by his own heroics.
”I honestly have no words. I have no idea how that happened,” he said.
“Hardik (Pandya) kept telling me just keep believing we can do it in the end. Honestly, I’m lost for words.”
The pulsating contest was widely lauded as one of the greatest matches in T20 history after Pakistan looked to have the match in the bag before Kohli’s heroics in the back half of India’s innings.
“You will not see a better game of T20 cricket than that, and you probably won’t see a (better) innings in T20 cricket,” former Australian captain Mark Taylor said on Nine’s coverage.
“You’ll see hundreds and bigger scores, but under pressure and behind the eight-ball, to make that 82 like Virat Kohli did and to guide his side through that was just extraordinary. That’s as good an innings as you’ll see in the short format of the game.”
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