23rd October will always be special for me – Virat Kohli recalls his magnificent knock against Pakistan in T20 World Cup

India’s talisman batter Virat Kohli recalled his magnum opus knock of unbeaten 82 runs against Pakistan in the team’s opening match of the T20 World Cup. Team India had their backs against the wall when Kohli produced one of the best T20I innings of his glorious career.

It looked like Pakistan would go on to take the match when 28 runs were needed off the final eight balls. However, Kohli smashed two unbelievable sixes against Haris Rauf to keep India in the fray.

Kohli batted out of his skin to get India over the line in the run-chase when all hopes was lost.

“October 23rd 2022 will always be special in my heart. Never felt energy like that in a cricket game before. What a blessed evening that was ??,” Kohli wrote on Twitter.

Kohli was lost for words after India’s thrilling win and he also showed his emotional side after the impressive win.

Pakistan had posted a par score of 159 runs on the board and India was behind the eighth-ball at 31-4 after 6.1 overs. However, Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli got their team back into the contest as they added a fine alliance of 113 runs for the fifth wicket.

Virat Kohli said after the game as he was awarded the Player of the Match, “It’s a surreal atmosphere, I have no words, no idea how that happened. I am really lost for words. Hardik believed we can do it, if we stayed till the end. When Shaheen bowled from the pavilion end, that’s when we decided to take him down. Haris is their prime bowler, and I hit those two sixes. The calculation was simple. Nawaz had one over to bowl, so if I could take Haris down, they would panic.”

He added, “From 28 in 8, it came down to 16 to 6. I tried to stick to my instincts. The first one was back of a hand-slower ball (the one over long-on). Standing here I just feel like it was meant to be. Till today Mohali was my best innings against Australia. Today I will count this one higher. Hardik kept pushing me. The crowd has been phenomenal. You guys (fans) kept backing me and I am grateful for your support.”

It was a masterpiece knock from Virat Kohli but India was knocked out of the T20 World Cup after their 10-wicket loss against eventual champions England in the semifinal.