Twitter Reactions: Virat Kohli's masterclass leads India to thrilling victory against Pakistan in campaign opener
An epic thriller came to an end with India chasing down the 160-run target on the final delivery.
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Excitement, thrills, and fear - an India-Pakistan clash can be summed up by just these three words. And just like every time, the T20 World Cup 2022 contest between the two teams saw all these emotions running through. The players, of both sides, played under utmost pressure when they squared off at the MCG, at the end, India prevailed over Pakistan to bag their first win in the campaign opener.
The game started with India winning the toss and opting to bowl first. Unlike the previous World Cup game against Pakistan, the Men in Blue had a dream start as young pace gun Arshdeep Singh struck very early in just the second over and dismissed the Pakistani skipper Babar Azam for a golden duck. India’s celebrations continued when he returned for his next over and dismissed the in-form opener Mohammad Rizwan for a 12-ball 4, destroying Pakistan’s top order.
Indian bowlers then struggled to pick up the next wicket in the game as Shan Masood and Iftikhar Ahmed put up a well-composed 76-run stand for the third wicket before Ahmed walked back to the pavilion in the 13th over. The middle-order lineup then came crashing down as Pakistan was reduced from 91/3 to 120/7 within just four overs, courtesy of Hardik Pandya. Thanks to the half-centuries by Ahmed and Masood, Pakistan managed to post a defendable target of 160 runs.
Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya power India to an epic win
As good as India’s first innings was, the start to the second innings was terrible as openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma failed to fire, again. Even though the former had been in good touch with the bat of late, he was not able to prove his worth against arch-rivals Pakistan. Naseem Shah picked up Rahul’s wicket, and Haris Rauf scalped Sharma as the duo walked off inside the powerplay.
Just when it looked like the in-form Suryakumar Yadav would work wonders with the bat, as he has in recent times, Rauf struck again and sent him packing. After three early wickets, Axar Patel was promoted up the order, but confusion between him and Virat Kohli led to his dismissal, which marked Pandya’s entry into the chase.
It was then all Kohli and Pandya, as the duo put up a terrific show and shared a 100+ run partnership for the fifth wicket to keep India’s hopes alive. The game came down to the final few overs, and India had a big gap to fill in, but that is when Virat Kohli (82* off 53) fired up and did what he is best known for, which is winning the game. He fired up multiple big sixes to take the game to the final over, and that was not enough as the fans were kept on the edge of their seats till the final ball of the game.
The last-over drama persisted in the game, like always. After Pandya’s dismissal off the first ball of the last over, Dinesh Karthik also failed to charge up and India’s tension increased. But multiple errors by Mohammad Nawaz in the final over, and Indian batters making the best out of it led India to a massive four-wicket victory to open their T20 World Cup 2022 campaign.
Kohli will always be a champion cricketer, one of the best batsman ever to play the game and someone who makes us proud to be an Indian. 🇮🇳 #Truechampion @imVkohli
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) October 23, 2022
Virat’s knock in Mohali in the #T20WorldCup against Australia was probably one of the finest I have seen and this one was probably a notch higher because of the big ground & India being 31-4. Class is always permanent and an outstanding win for Team India in a thriller #IndvsPak pic.twitter.com/HsJ5R0Caqu
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) October 23, 2022
What an incredible match! Virat, that was silly 😰🥵 #PakVsInd
— Ben Duckett (@BenDuckett1) October 23, 2022
WHAT. A. WIN. Take a bow @imVkohli !! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 Amazing stuff!! So much composure and control!! Soaked up the pressure to take india through!! What a CHAMPION!!Couldn't have been a better way to bring in Diwali!! 🔥🔥
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) October 23, 2022
Geeze I don’t think I can ever recall a better game of T20 cricket than what we’ve just seen at the MCG. Amazing stuff from both teams. Virat’s dig one of a kind.👏👏
— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) October 23, 2022
@imVkohli Almighty knows how to give respect to a Legend like you ✊✊✊✊what a run chase and what a match…😇😇😇 pic.twitter.com/G0CfSEzpfZ
— Mushfiqur Rahim (@mushfiqur15) October 23, 2022
Forever the King 🔥🔥Happy Diwali to everyone from @imvkohli 👏 #T20WorldCup #INDvPAK
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) October 23, 2022
Pakistan and India thank you for not letting the hype before the game turn into a fizzle. Another great match between you both, need more of it. Fans of both teams be proud of all players. #INDvPAK #T20worldcup22
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) October 23, 2022
On par with an episode of Days of our Lives…It had everything!! What a game!!! Incredible chase.. well done India….#INDvsPAK2022
— Morne Morkel (@mornemorkel65) October 23, 2022
Vintage @imVkohli is back…… 🔥
— Dimuth Karunarathna (@IamDimuth) October 23, 2022
Well done @BCCI #INDvsPAK2022 #T20WorldCup2022
That was incredible entertainment 🏏#INDvPAK Pakistan won’t believe they’ve lost that but that was pretty special finishing from Kohli & India. MCG looked some atmosphere 🏟️
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) October 23, 2022
Kept his cool @ashwinravi99 leaving that ball for a wide !!! What a game unbelievable!!’ #indiavspak is always more than a game ‘ it’s an emotion !!! 🇮🇳 greatness personified @imVkohli 👏
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) October 23, 2022
Yaayyyy…Happyyy Deepawali
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 23, 2022
What an amazing game.High on emotions, but this is
probably the most brilliant T20 Innings i have ever seen, take a bow Virat Kohli . Chak De India #IndvsPak pic.twitter.com/3TwVbYscpa
It ain't for the faint hearted ....
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) October 23, 2022
A masterclass from a master craftsman #ViratKohli #INDvsPAK2022 #T20WorldCup2022
As good a game as I can remember seeing in T20 cricket .. Both teams bring so much .. 90 thousand at the G .. UNBELIEVABLE .. #INDvPAK #Virat🔥
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) October 23, 2022
When the kingdom falls, the king rises… Take a bow King Kohli. #IndvsPak pic.twitter.com/aDdOJwoZnU
— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) October 23, 2022
Virat Kohli you are the king 👑
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 23, 2022
What a game! What a performance. KOHLI- man of steel. The difference between India and Pakistan today. #INDvsPAK2022 #T20WorldCup2022
— Abhinav Mukund (@mukundabhinav) October 23, 2022
Virat Kohli well and truly back to his best.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) October 23, 2022
Take a bow @imVkohli 🙌🏽 An innings for the ages. Congratulations team India 🇮🇳👏🏽 #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/Z4aXVfb2wV
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) October 23, 2022
Goodness me, what a game of cricket!! #INDvPAK #CricketWorldCup
— Kate Cross (@katecross16) October 23, 2022
Kohli did it again! Bringing his own style, agression and play on the field and scoring a half century 🔥💪. A much needed and fantastic innings! @ImVKohli #INDvsPAK #T20worldcup22
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) October 23, 2022
Wow this game is unbelievable!!! 🤯🤯 #INDvsPAK
— Marnus Labuschagne (@marnus3cricket) October 23, 2022
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