Virat Kohli was the cynosure of all eyes at the Melbourne Cricket Ground which is located close the Central Business District of the city, that includes the busy Flinder’s street and railway station.
The former India captain has been in good nick whenever he has played for India after the last year’s ICC Men’s Twenty20 in the UAE, where in the recent Asia Cup, he uncorked his maiden century in a Twenty20 internationals against Afghanistan.
Kohli also likes a brush with Pakistan against whom he has met with substantial success. So his unbeaten 82 was in keeping with his good scores. His Sunday night’s display was stupendous because he did all the repair work after India lost its way in the power play and one extra ball and thereafter he went after the cover of the ball to hit sixes.
Pakistan tried all its resources, including the dangerous left arm seamer, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who tormented India a year ago in the Middle East, but Kohli – along with Hardik Pandya -‘ dashed Pakistan’s hopes. India scored 48 runs in the last three, that skipper Rohit Sharma felt was a tough ask.
With India, tottering at 31 for 4 , Kohli took the responsibility of baulking the Pakistan fast bowlers first and then strung a 113 run for the fifth wicket and which Skipper Rohit Sharma ssid was the “game changer.”
India managed to cause the turnaround from the jaws of defeat and a little over 90000 spectators saw one of the greatest chases in Twenty20 match even if the target was only 160 which is considered not a great shake.
It was a great relief to captain Rohit Sharma who would now should lead the team to the semi-finals to be played in Sydney and Adelaide on November 9 and 10. He was done in by a good delivery from fast bowler Naseem Shah. The depth in India’s batting helped, with Pandya making a solid 40.
India will fly to Sydney for the next match to be played on November 27. Until then it’s time to cherish Kohli’s grand knock.
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