‘What a champion’ – Twitter can’t keep calm as Virat Kohli ensures India snatches victory from jaws of defeat against Pakistan

India and Pakistan locked horns in the Super 12 round of the ongoing 20-20 World Cup 2022 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This was the most anticipated game of the tournament even before the event began. Weeks before the game, the buzz was building around both countries. As it turned out. the game exacted the buzz and excitement after a long time. Talking about the game, the 2007 winners won the toss and bowled first.

They bowled well in patches as most of the Pakistan batting failed to create any impact. However, half-centuries from Shan Masood and Ifthikhar Ahmed and a good finish with the bat from Shaheen Afridi meant Pakistan scored a competitive 159/8. For Men In Blue, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya took three wickets each. On the other hand, Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar took one each.

India went over the line in the midst of high drama

In reply, the former champions had a nightmarish start. Skipper and vice-captain, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul went back to the shed early in the innings. Sharma was dismissed by Haris Rauf while Rahul got out to Naseem Shah. Suryakumar Yadav (15) started brilliantly but his inning was cut short by Rauf. At this point, India decided to promote Axar Patel up the order.

It might have worked if not for him and Virat Kohli making a mess while running between the wicket. Anyways, the former lost his wicket and it looked like the end is nigh for India. However, Kohli and Pandya stitched an important partnership of 113 runs so that the team remains in the game. In the penultimate over bowled by Rauf, Kohli hit two sixes to bring down the equation to 16 runs to win off six balls.

The fans witnessed a high drama with the umpires not calling a no-ball on one occasion but almost getting it right the second time. Notably, when the umpires got it right, it meant that India needed six runs off the last three balls with a free hit coming up. After a wide, three byes, Dinesh Kartik’s wicket, and Ravichandran Ashwin’s four over long-off, India won the game by four wickets on the last ball.

This is how Twitter reacted

Any comments on Virat Kohli innings?

— Dr. Nauman Niaz (@DrNaumanNiaz) October 23, 2022

Take a bow, Virat Kohli – you are a champion. pic.twitter.com/30tgrxprvm

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 23, 2022

https://twitter.com/BeingIshanCric/status/1584151457346879489?s=20&t=RhCs_Wg1Cv_smTUmLjXcMQ

Virat Kohli well and truly back to his best.

— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) October 23, 2022

This is one of the finest innings under pressure . Take a bow @imVkohli ! What a player ! #INDvPAK #T20WorldCup2022

— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye) October 23, 2022

VIRAT KING KOHLI. INCREDIBLE INCREDIBLE INCREDIBLE INNINGS.

— Bhawana (@bhawnakohli5) October 23, 2022

https://twitter.com/WasimJaffer14/status/1584151433284268033?s=20&t=Qc6Z3bxOKTNqZsh-Adrr1w

#KingKohli for obvious reasons #T20WorldCup2022 #PakVsInd #ViratKohli #T20WorldCup

— Saqib Farshori (@saqibfarshori) October 23, 2022

One incredible knock by Virat Kohli!

— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) October 23, 2022

https://twitter.com/IrfanPathan/status/1584151194754510848?s=20&t=Qc6Z3bxOKTNqZsh-Adrr1w

All those who didn’t want @imVkohli in the World Cup squad I hope are eating their words

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 23, 2022

Kohli has told team management that he would need 15 balls to get in before he can go on overdrive. Hope he closes this one out. #INDvPAK #T20WorldCup2022

— Arani Basu (@AraniBasuTOI) October 23, 2022

India v Pakistan !! I admit it … it doesn’t get any bigger in Cricket ..

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) October 23, 2022