Virat Kohli was lost for words and had “no idea” how he took India to victory in Melbourne on Sunday, but his captain, Rohit Sharma, knew what he saw.
According to Rohit, Virat’s 82 not out against Pakistan was not just the latter’s best innings, it was “one of India’s best knocks”.
“Definitely his (Virat’s) best for sure, but I think from the situation we were in, and to come out with a victory, I think it has to be one of India’s best knocks, not just his best knock,” Rohit told mediapersons after India’s win.
Virat, however, was overwhelmed by emotions. “Well, it’s a surreal atmosphere. I honestly have no words. I have no idea how that happened,” he said of his incredible innings. Asked when did he decide to shift gears, Virat said: “Well, I think when Shaheen (Afridi) bowled from the Pavilion end, I told Hardik (Pandya) we have to take him down.
“The calculation was simple. (Mohammad) Nawaz had one over to bowl, so if I could take Haris (Rauf) down, they would panic. It came down to 16 off 6. I’m kind of lost for words.”
When asked about his two sixes off Rauf in the 19th over, Virat said: “It’s just instinctively I saw it, told myself to stay still. The one at long-on was unexpected, it was a backof-a-length slower ball. The fine leg one, I just threw my bat at it.”
Was it his best T20 knock? “Till today I said Mohali (2016 T20 World Cup, vs Australia) was my best T20 innings. Then I got 82 off 52, today I got 82 off 53. Both are just as special. Today I will count this one higher because of the magnitude of the occasion and the situation we were in.”
Later, Rohit, speaking about Virat, said: “I honestly don’t think he was struggling with form or anything. He was batting as good as he was, but with him, the expectations are always so high that even if he gets a good 30 or 40, people tend to talk about it.”
The other hero of the match, Pandya, remembered his late father on the joyous occasion.
“I was only thinking about my dad. I have not cried about my dad. I love my son, but I don't know if I’ll be able to do for him what my dad did for me. So this is for him,” Pandya said.
Written with inputs from PTI
Number speak
⚫ 81.33 — Virat Kohli’s batting average vs Pakistan in T20Is. It is the highest for any player against any opponent in T20Is
⚫ 4 — In 10 T20I innings against Pakistan, Kohli has won Man of the Match award four timesl 518 — Kohli’s average in successful chases in T20 World Cups (9 innings)
⚫ 18 — Kohli’s number of unbeaten innings in chases in T20Is. India have won on all 18 occasions
⚫ 270.50 — Kohli’s average in all chases in T20 World Cups
⚫ 3794 — Kohli’s runs in T20Is, the most by a batter, overtaking Rohit Sharma’s tally of 3741