Virat Kohli was at his imperious best as India pulled off a thrilling win over Pakistan in their T20 World Cup opener on Sunday evening.
More than 90,000 fans packed out the MCG as India and Pakistan fans created a raucous and unforgettable atmosphere.
The cricket was also hard to forget as India came from the clouds to win by four wickets after entering the final three overs requiring 48 runs to claim victory.
Enter Kohli who finished with an unbeaten 81 from 53 balls to lead his nation to a famous triumph while picking up Man of the Match honours in the process.
When Pakistan’s Haris Rauf was thundering in and India needed 28 runs off eight balls, Kohli delivered.
SEN Cricket’s Gerard Whateley superbly described Kohli’s lofted six straight down the ground.
“Kohli has got to find a boundary against Rauf,” said Whateley during the broadcast.
“Kohli stands his ground, straight down the ground, he lifted it up - that is the shot of an emperor.
“A straight six down the ground to the cloaking on the seats.”
Kohli followed it up with another six off the final ball of the penultimate over, this time over fine leg.
Whateley said: “22 off seven, Rauf in and at him, Kohli lifts it up to fine leg... and it carries for six.
“The man is a genius. He’s not just a king, he’s a genius.”
Oh what a night!
— SEN Cricket (@SEN_Cricket) October 23, 2022
Here’s how @imVkohli’s reign at the @MCG unfolded this evening in an amazing run chase!
It has been one of the great evenings in world sport.#T20WorldCup #INDvPAK@GerardWhateley @ChuckBerry1969 @beastieboy07 pic.twitter.com/cI8aI3Z4io
It set up a final over of complete drama with India needing 16 runs to win.
Hardik Pandya was dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz on the first ball before Kohli swatted a six off a no-ball to further stamp India’s late authority.
Next was a wide, then three byes after the ball hit the stumps, before Dinesh Karthik was stumped by Mohammad Rizwan off Nawaz. Chaos.
Another wide, setting up a run to win off the final ball with Ravi Ashwin scooping a single to mid-off, sending fans of the light blue persuasion into delirium and reducing Kohli to tears.
India captain Rohit Sharma said Kohli’s was simply one of the best innings by an Indian batsman, let alone his own remarkable career.
“His best for sure,” Rohit said.
“But 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 (too), not just his best.
“Because until the 13th over we were so behind the game, and the required rate was just climbing up and up. But to come out and chase that score was an extremely brilliant effort from Virat, and then obviously Hardik (Pandya) played a role there as well.”
After a thunderous atmosphere in Melbourne, India will now prepare to take on the Netherlands at the SCG on Thursday night, on the same night Pakistan will endeavour to bounce back against Zimbabwe in Perth.
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