‘I was only happy that I was again participating on a huge occasion’ – Virat Kohli on T20 World Cup 2022 heroics against Pakistan

India’s former captain Virat Kohli recently talked about how the Indian cricket team historically went over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022 at the MCG in Australia. In a thrilling turn of events, Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya helped India seal a victory against Pakistan after needing 48 runs off 18 balls. 

Virat Kohli discussed that he has never experienced such a feeling and this match against Pakistan is the closest to his heart out of all the international games he has played especially against the neighbours, considering he has outshined all the other players and has been a match winner for the team. 

“The fact that I came back to play the Asia Cup, and the sort of phase I was in, it was a space filled with content and I didn’t have any desperation of any sort, so I didn’t feel any pressure like I did before. I was only happy that I was again participating in a huge occasion such as this”, said Virat Kohli. 

Virat Kohli on India beating Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2022

“And I remembered a lot of things, there was Covid in between because of which fans were missed in the stadium, and I felt rush of emotions come to me before match day which made me realize how big of an opportunity or a blessing this is for everybody and not just for the players but also for the fans, as these memories can only be created in an atmosphere for it and this atmosphere is created by the players, by situations as in this match (referring to India vs Pakistan game at MCG) and most importantly with the fans being in the stadium”, he added. 

“If that day there weren’t so many people there, I feel this knock would not have much significance because a game turns into something more than a game because of the energy fans bring to it,” said Virat. 

“It’s amazing. Of all the games that I have been part of in World Cups or big stages with India-Pakistan, this is one thing I can never forget – singing the national anthem in front of so many people and people singing it with you. And I’ll tell you why, because for me that is the one thing that all your supporters and you as a team and all your management and everyone involved on the day in that game do together.

“All the other stuff while it is batting, bowling or fielding it’s all happening separately, this is one moment where everyone’s energy is streamlined into one thing and the power of that is very special. It’s something to feel, it’s not something you can quite put into words but that’s why we get goosebumps and it’s the energy which makes us feel like that. One gets very few opportunities to experience and feel the energy like that in a moment,” Kohli concluded.