PAK 159/8 in 20 overs; IND 160/6
Virat Kohli sums up his emotions: “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. When Shaheen bowled from the pavilion end, that’s when we decided to take him down. Haris is their prime bowler, and I hit those two sixes. The calculation was simple. Nawaz had one over to bowl, so if I could take Haris down, they would panic. From 28 in 8, it came down to 16 to 6. I tried to stick to my instincts. The first one was back of a hand slower ball (the one over long-on). Standing here I just feel like it was meant to be. Till today Mohali was my best innings against Australia. Today I will count this one higher. Hardik kept pushing me. The crowd has been phenomenal. You guys (fans) kept backing me and I am grateful for your support. “
Kohli pulls a Melbourne miracle against Pakistan
Cometh the hour, cometh the man and that's how Ravi Shastri welcomed Virat Kohli in the post-match presentation. There was only one person who could have pulled off an impossible chase and that's Kohli. The legend has taken his status as the world's best batsman a notch higher as the modern master orchestrated a miraculous run chase to stun Pakistan. Kohli scored a brilliant unbeaten 53-ball 82 and along with Hardik Pandya snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat. Pakistan had the match in their bag but had no clue that Kohli would steal it. Kohli walked in at the fall of KL Rahul with the scorecard reading 1/7. Soon it was 4/31 with Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel falling short of his crease. Pakistan were steaming in and that's when Kohli took it on himself along with Hardik Pandya.
The duo resisted the attack, took the game deep, forged a century partnership and in about 90 minutes, the equation was 28 off 8 balls. Kohli manoeuvred with the field, and kept running hard between the wickets with Hardik rotating the strike well. The boundaries weren't coming but the belief and the ability to stay focused amid the chaotic collapse makes Kohli special. India needed 106 runs from 54 balls and that's when the turnaround happened. Mohammad Nawaz came under Kohli's radar as 20 runs came from the 12th over, which acted as a booster for the next eight overs.
At the 15th over, India needed 60 runs in 30 balls, Kohli was well-set and then it was turn of Shaheen Shah Afridi to face the music. 17 runs from Shaheen's over reduced the equation to 31 runs from 12 balls and a couple of sixes off Haris Rauf meant, India needed 16 off 6 balls. The acceleration was such commendable that Kohli scored his first 11 runs in 20 balls and the next 33 balls he scored 71 runs. Hardik fell in the final over and so as Karthik but Kohli stolen three runs in a free hit as Ashwin knocked off the winning runs to script a special win. Tears and the Indian captain lifting Kohli and celebrating like a child shows the class of the modern day great. The Chase Master is back!
India beats Pakistan by 4 wickets: This is the stuff of legends and what a knock this has been from Virat Kohli. Emotions ran high, the pendulum swung both ways but it’s the steel and determination of Kohli that saw India clinch a thriller in front of 90,000 capacity crowd. What a player and what an extraordinary athlete.
Kohli slams Half-century: Virat Kohli brings his half-century from 43 balls and this has been an innings of substance and quality when the chips were down. The former India skipper continues to pile runs against Pakistan and he dropped anchor when India collapsed against the fiery pace of Pakistan’s fast bowlers. India is still in the chase with the master at work. Can Kohli pull a heist with India needing 31 runs from 12 balls... Sit tight for the next 10 minutes.
Kohli, Pandya keep India in hunt: India needs 60 runs in 30 balls and although it is not impossible, Pakistan is slightly ahead at this stage. The partnership is 69 with Kohli approaching his half-century and with wickets in hand, India has the chance but the required rate is 12 an over. It’s a steep chase which lies on the broad shoulders of Kohli and Pandya. It’s time to step on the gas, else the game will slowly but surely slip away from India’s grasp.
Kohli, Pandya attack Pakistan: Exactly what the doctor ordered! Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli milk Mohammad Nawaz for 20 runs and India is back in the hunt. Pandya started with a monstrous six over the deep mid-wicket, Kohli then put on his dancing shoes to nonchalantly dispatches the bowler over long-on and then Pandya finishes the over with a maximum over long-on. India needs 86 runs with seven overs remaining and this match promises to be a humdinger. The fifty-run partnership is up between Kohli and Pandya.
Kohli, Hardik rebuild: India needs 115 runs in 60 balls and it all boils down to the pair of Kohli and Hardik. Pakistan scored 99 runs in the last 10 overs and although the equation is higher, India will like to forget what happened in the first part and focus on the taget. A good couple of overs can bring the Indians back in the game but the assault has to be selective and calculated. Kohli and Hardik have the experience and will look to accelerate. The current run rate is 4.5 while the required rate is 11.5 rpo. A partnership is crucial and with two class players, this game is still not completely in Pakistan’s grasp.
Pakistan rocks India: Haris Rauf brings in all his experience of playing for Melbourne Stars in the BBL and he has rocked the Indian top order. The fall of Rohit and Rahul denied India any leverage of attacking in the PowerPlay and suddenly a score of 160 is looking too big with the Pakistani pacers shifting the momentum in their favour. Suryakumar Yadav attacked and played some exquisite shots but fell while trying to play a ramp shot. Rauf bowls a short of a length delivery, on the off and Surya got cramped for room and ends up nicking to the keeper. If that wasn’t enough, Axar Patel who was sent up the order ended up getting run-out. India in doldrums. Hardik Pandya joins Kohli but India has never won from this position, is what stats say. Time for Kohli and Pandya to orchestrate the run chase and prove the stat wrong.
Rahul, Rohit fall early: KL Rahul fails to produce an innings of quality as he falls, unfortunately, to an inside edge to give Naseem Shah his first wicket. Rahul wanted to defend a length delivery that slightly took off but the ball takes an inside edge and rolls onto the stumps. Rohit Sharma has taken the cautious route, with a low bat lift and slightly opened stance to counter a fiery Shaheen Shah Afridi. Rohit does face an issue while facing left-arm seamers, especially with the swing coming into play and the Pakistani pacer has had an upper hand in the past. The minute adjustments don’t help Rohit as the India skipper tentatively pokes an away delivery off Haris Rauf who wheels in celebration after Iftikhar Ahmed takes an excellent catch in the second slip. What a game this is turning out to be and the Pakistani fans have found their voice with Babar Azam attacking for wickets.
India begins chase: Right then 160 runs to get and on most occasions the batting unit will back itself to gun down but remember, this is India-Pakistan and it boils down to nerves. The late surge has given Pakistan bowlers a total to defend but KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma will be aware that it’s a good batting surface and they have the likes of Kohli, Suryakumar, Hardik and Karthik for company. Shaheen Shah Afridi with the new ball and it will be Rahul, not Rohit who will take the strike. Time for another pulsating 90 minutes.
Dream Debut for Arshdeep: What a World Cup debut this has been from Arshdeep as he registers figures of 4-0-32-3 to give India a genuine chance of starting the T20 World Cup 2022 on a winning note. This has been exceptional from the Indian bowlers with Hardik steering things in India’s way in the middle overs by picking three wickets and Shami providing the crucial breakthrough by halting Iftikar Ahmed’s rampage. If Arshdeep moved the ball and surprised the batsmen by sheer pace and bounce, Hardik was clever to mix his lengths and dig in short when the batsmen were a little vulnerable. Shami has been at his express best, hitting the good length area consistently and bowling within the tram line, drawing the batsmen to play. Credit to Rohit for marshalling his troops and making the right bowling changes. His move to bring Shami back when Iftikar was on song and to trust a young Arshdeep with the new ball are some of the top picks. Pakistan, meanwhile, will walk out believing their fast bowlers can rock the Indian top-order and thanks to Shan Masood who hit a brilliant half-century and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who with some late strikes injected life and hope into the dug-out. The chase, on the other side.
Hardik dismantles Pakistan: Pakistan have committed hara-kiri and only they can do that. Not too sure what the message is from the dug-out but they are swinging wild and falling. A touch fuller from Hardik, Shadab Khan swipes only to be pouched by Suryakumar Yadav, who takes an excellent catch at long-on and then Haiden Ali tried to whack Hardik out of the park only to miscue it and again it was Suryakumar who settled underneath the catch to leave Pakistan five down. Spider Cam denied India a sixth Pakistani wicket as luck smiled on Mohammad Nazwa’s way, not just once but twice as Ashwin dropped a difficult caught and bowled. However, Hardik picked his third wicket and boy what a year the all-rounder is having. Pakistan in all sorts of trouble with India calling the shots right from the start.
Shami douses Iftikhar’s Blitz: Bold and audacious and that’s Iftikhar Ahmed who has risen to the occasion with a brilliant 34-ball 51. Pakistan wanted Iftikar to motor on but Rohit Sharma had other ideas. The India skipper unleashes Mohammed Shami who came back into the attack and pinned Iftikhar in front of the stumps to swing the momentum back in India’s favour. Iftikar tonked Axar Patel for 21 runs that included three sixes - a slog sweep over mid-wicket to start and the punches landed with a massive one over long-on and then over long-off where KL Rahul almost took a blinder but the leap was for the cameras as he couldn’t throw the ball into the playing area but that was a brilliant effort from the India vice-captain. Iftikar brought his fifty and just when he thought he was in the groove, Shami rapped him on the pads. Lived by the sword and died by it. An interesting passage of play where the pendulum is swinging both ways.
Time for Spin: Spin is being introduced into the attack and it’s R Ashwin who starts in a tidy fashion. The off-spinner almost had Shan Massod but the just dipped in front of him and a fantastic dive couldn’t give Mohammed Shami his first wicket. Pakistan seems to have calmed their nerves after staring tentatively with both openers back in the pavilion. Arshdeep Singh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have used the conditions well with overcast conditions being their ally. Hardik Pandya has been introduced in the attack and the all-rounder has gone a touch expensive but has mixed his lengths well. He has been bowling short of length and good lengths, occasionally bowling full, especially to the right-handers. Pakistan, meanwhile are slowly removing their foot from the panic button with Shan Masood and Iftikhar Ahmed mixing caution with aggression. Pakistan going exactly at 6 rpo with the 50-run partnership up.
Arshdeep Double gives India Control: Arhsdeep is fired up and he has given India control inside the PowerPlay. There is movement off the surface and Sunil Gavaskar on air credited Rohit Sharma for using his bowlers effectively. While Bhuvneshwar got the ball to swing, Arshdeep extracted not only movement but also bounce. It was an excellent set-up to dismiss Rizwan as the left-arm pace troubled the batsman with pace and consistently pegging the off-line. Bowling close to the off-stump line, Arshdeep got Rizwan to play and after hitting the lengths, he surprised Rizwan with a short ball. Rizwan was hurried to play the pull shot only to hit to Bhuvneswar Kumar at fine leg, who was stationed exactly at that position. Ploy perfectly executed.
Arshdeep, Bhuvi dent Pakistan: High-quality bowling from the Indian opening pair of Arshdeep Singh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar with the left-arm seamer trapping Babar Azam for a duck. In the last T20 World Cup, a certain Shaheen Shah Afridi did the same by bringing the ball in and trapping Rohit Sharma. This time, Arshdeep does the same thing with a beautiful inswinger and the ball beats Babar and thuds onto the pads. That looked plumb the moment it hit but the Pakistan skipper went for a review, only to burn it. It was pitching in line, impact in line and was knocking the leg pole. But credit to Bhuvneshwar who set the pace with an excellent first over. The swing bowler extracted bounce from the surface and troubled Mohammed Rizwan, who was hit on the right hand. A good toss to win and the Indian new ball bowlers are putting their skills to good use. Bounce, swing, carry and the momentum is with India. Pakistan having trouble with the moving ball.
Stat Attack: Mohandas Menon throws up an interesting info rfegarding India’s opening matches at the T20 World Cups.
Chahal out, Ashwin in: Interesting choice from India as they have gone with two finger spinners in Ashwin and Axar with Chahal warming the bench. With big boundaries, Chahal could have fancied his chances but Ashwin has the experience of big matches and can make a difference with the variety. We are set for the National Anthems with the MCG bathed in sunlight.
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma(c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik(w), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh
Pakistan Playing XI: Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(w), Shan Masood, Haider Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
Rohit Sharma: We are going to field first. Looks like a good pitch, it's always nice to bowl with overcast conditions. Think the ball will swing around a bit, and we need to take its advantage. Preparations have been good. We played a couple of practice games in Brisbane. Time to come out and enjoy ourselves now. We were expecting nothing less than this, hopefully we'll entertain them (the crowd). We have seven batters, three seamers and two spinners.
Babar Azam: Toss is not in our hands, but we would have liked to bowl first as well. We'll try to post around 160-170. We have prepared well, and we are ready for this big game. We had a T20 series back home (against England), we played a tri-series in New Zealand, so we are prepared. We have three fast bowlers and two spinners.
Pitch Report by Michael Clarke: The pitch has some covering of grass, it is rock hard. A good batting wicket, overall. There will definitely be some pace and bounce on offer. Captain winning the toss must elect to bat first
Expert Opinion: Sunil Gavaskar on why India has an upper hand over Pakistan in World Cup H2H 12-1
“I think possibly because the Indians absorb the pressure a lot better. It will not be the catastrophe for India that seems to be case when a Pakistan team loses to India.”
India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup Results
2007 - India beat Pakistan via bowlout (match tied) in Durban
2007 - India beat Pakistan by five runs in Johannesburg (Final)
2012 - India beat Pakistan by 8 wickets in Colombo
2014 - India beat Pakistan by 7 wickets in Dhaka
2016 - India beat Pakistan by 6 wickets in Kolkata
2021 - Pakistan beat India by 10 wickets in Dubai
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