Chase master Virat Kohli stuns Pakistan as India win thriller | Match Highlights | T20WC 2022

Virat Kohli stuns Pakistan as India win thriller | Match Highlights | T20WC 2022

Pakistan, with 90,238 in attendance, and several million watching it on their television sets, but more than the 10 boundaries he smashed, it is his game awareness that is the talk of the town after the win off the final ball

was taken, the non-striker would take strike the next ball while the new batter would be at the non-striker’s end.

From October 1, 2022, the incoming batter would take strike even if the batters crossed over during the catch. This change meant that Kohli, adrenaline still rushing after two sixes to end the penultimate over off Haris Rauf, Pakistan’s in-form death bowler, was restricted to watching the action from the non-striker’s end.

This would change next ball with Dinesh Karthik slicing a high full toss for a single and Kohli took charge immediately, calmly driving one to long-on before letting his athleticism take over with a quick couple of runs. 

With no overs left from the quicks, the heat was on Nawaz to restrict Kohli, and he resorted to the high full-toss, high-pace strategy to take the batter by surprise. Instead, a composed Kohli, well and truly buzzing with the crowd going berserk, flayed it across the line for a maximum.

The no-ball call which ensued infuriated Pakistan further, and meant that six runs were needed off three balls with Kohli facing a free-hit ball. 

Chase master Virat Kohli stuns Pakistan as India win thriller | Match Highlights | T20WC 2022

Kohli’s street-smart thinking

A wide off the next ball ensured that the free-hit was carried over. The wild slog off the next ball was missed, but Kohli’s sharp thinking saw India sneak in three runs as byes. 

Pakistan appealed for a dead ball, rushing to the on-field umpires to query about the running since the bails were disturbed after Kohli missed his heave. However, in this case, the delivery was a free hit and as such, the ball wasn’t dead after it hit the stumps

The three runs taken off the ball ultimately proved to be crucial with Dinesh Karthik dismissed next ball and the match running down to the very final delivery.

Unbeaten on 82 off 53 balls, Kohli’s innings was studded with treats that would delight a photographer, but it was perhaps his acute awareness in the cauldron of pressure that ultimately proved to be the difference in a thriller for the ages.