India vs Pakistan, 16th Match, Super 12 Group 2

 

Rohit Sharma: I was in the dressing room. I don't have any words left. You got to expect something like this in a game like this. We wanted to stay in the game for as long as possible. That crucial partnership was the game-changing moment for us. The pitch had something in it. There was nice carry. Some swing and seam. Good to see from the bowling perspective. They had a good partnership (Iftikhar and Masood) after that. 

They batted well towards the end as well. But we knew we had to bat out of our skin to chase this. Those two guys (Kohli and Pandya) are experienced. Staying calm and taking the game deep was very critical. Good for our confidence. Always crucial to get off the mark like this. We were in no position to win this. The way we won that's more pleasing for us. Hats off to Virat for the way he batted, has to be the best innings he has played for India. I would like to thank everyone, it's wonderful to see. Their support for us is very, very crucial wherever we go.

Babar Azam: Our bowlers bowled really well. All credit to Kohli and Pandya. It wasn't easy with the new ball. We had partnerships after 10 overs. We had a chance. We tried to stick to our plans. But credit to Virat Kohli. In the middle we decided we wanted a wicket and held the spinner back. We had a lot of positives. The way Iftikhar played and the way Shan played.

Virat Kohli | Player of the Match: 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.

India winning off the final ball of a T20I
vs Aus Sydney 2016
vs Ban Colombo RPS 2018
vs WI Chennai 2018
vs Pak Melbourne 2022 *

Highest target achieved in last three overs in a T20 WC match
48 Aus vs Pak Gros Islet 2010
48 Ind vs Pak Melbourne 2022 *
42 WI vs Aus Mirpur 2014
41 SL vs Ind Gros Islet 2010

113 bw Kohli & Hardik - highest partnership for any wicket for India vs Pak in T20Is

Indian fans have heard folklores of Miandad finishing it off with a sixer in the late 80s. Then Afridi did the same in 2014. But in a close chase, Kohli and Pandya have managed to come up with something extraordinary. The partnership of Kohli-Pandya ran hard and Kohli managed to clear the long fences four times. Three of those came when it seemed it might well be over for India.

 The broadcasters are still struggling to talk amongst themselves. Not a single soul has left the stadium. Can there be a better way to market this sport? A massive section of cricket fans had given up on Kohli. But he came back with renewed vigour during Asia Cup and today's knock is a gentle reminder than form is temporary and class is permanent! Stay tuned for the presentation..

Mohammad Nawaz to Kohli, byes, 3 runs, Kohli misses the slog and the ball goes off the sticks past short third man for a triple. Three byes. The Pakistan players are asking the umpires as they want it to be a dead ball as the ball slammed into the sticks. Was a fuller ball, Kohli missed it and the ball ricocheted off the sticks and went fine. Babar and co have a chat but it will be a triple as the call of three byes will stay

Mohammad Nawaz to Kohli, no ball, SIX, that's a no-ball! India fans are going berserk. That was a highish full toss, Kohli swings it across the line and flays it to deep square. The fielder at the deep managed to get a hand on it but failed to flick it back. 6 needed now off 3 balls. Kohli is on strike. But Pakistan players still pleading with Marais Erasmus. But the old man is a saint. He makes the skipper of Pakistan understand of what exactly happened.