Virat Kohli, the long lost conqueror, sang a perfect redemption song on the grandest stage with a magical knock that engineered India’s colossal four-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan at the MCG, packed with 90,000 boisterous fans, here on Sunday.
‘King Kohli’, as his fans call him, conjured up a memorable unbeaten 82-run knock to anchor a chase of 160 which became tricky after India were left in tatters at 31 for 4. Hardik Pandya, the most important cog in India’s T20 wheel, struck 40 off 37 balls in a partnership of 113 for the fifth wicket.
Kohli’s ability to win matches for India had come under the scanner due to a prolonged lean patch and with his knock he proved that he remains one world best chasers in world cricket — something that his captain Rohit Sharma acknowledged after the heart-stopping game.
“Well, it’s a surreal atmosphere. I honestly have no words. I have no idea how that happened,” Kohli said after his incredible knock. “Hardik kept telling me, just believe we can stay till the end. I’m lost for words.”
It started in the 19th over when Kohli, on his haunches, sent one from Haruid Rauf for a huge six made it two from two.
Cricket indeed is a leveller as Rauf, after 22 splendid deliveries bowled two bad ones and it changed the complexion of the game.
Asked about those sixes, the former India skipper said, “It’s just instinctively I saw it, told myself to stay still. The one at long-on was unexpected, it was a back-of-a-length slower ball. The fine leg one, I just threw my bat at it.”
Then he spoke about his best T20 knocks.
“Till today I said Mohali 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.”
Anushka, who often accompanies Virat to his games, watched the nailbiter of a match on TV like several other cricket fans. She is currently shooting for “Chakda Xpress”, a film based on cricketer Jhulan Goswami’s life, in Kolkata. The actor said their 21-month-old daughter Vamika will one day understand why her mother was “dancing around and screaming wildly” in the room.
“... One day she will understand that her dad played his best innings that night which followed after a phase that was tough on him but he came out of it stronger and wiser than ever before!
“So proud of you !! Your strength is contagious and you my love, are LIMITLESS!! Love you forever and through thick and thin,” the actor-producer wrote in a note on her official Instagram account.
‘Chak De India’ reverberating around the MCG never sounded sweeter and Kohli seemed numb. He punched ground, took a long walk back, showed thumbs up to the crowd having restored India’s supremacy at a global event.