T20 World Cup 2022: In an epic battle between two arch rivals India and Pakistan, Virat Kohli owned the grand stage with knocks for ages as he led India to an emphatic 4-wicket win over Pakistan in a heart-stopping T20 World Cup game at the MCG on Sunday (October 23). Former India captain Babar Azam’s clash against Pakistan was in a different zone as he scored 83 off 53 balls to propel India to chase down the 160-run target set by Pakistan. The game that went right down to the wire had a lot of panic and unusual moments. One of them was when a no ball was given to Kohli by Mohammad Nawaz of Pakistan in the last over.
14 runs were needed off 3 balls. Nawaz’s Juicy Full-Toss Was sent for square leg of six overs and it was called a no-ball after deliberation by the on-field umpires. Nawaz, who was the hero of Pakistan’s Super 4 victory in the Asia Cup, had lost his cool by then. Pakistan fans on social media were outraged by the umpire’s decision, alleging that Babar Azam and his team were ‘cheated’ and the umpire only gave a no-ball because Virat Kohli Asked the umpires for it.
Check out angry fan reactions here…
Mohali 2011 DRS verdict.
Melbourne 2022 no ball verdict.
Cheating on both occasions. — Aaron (@hazharoon) 23 October 2022
No ball was given only because Virat Kohli demanded it. there were no reviews #Cakevind pic.twitter.com/Lu5wYOQs6x— Azan Ahmed (@azanahmad257) 23 October 2022
Virat Kohli was outside the crease and the ball was at his waist height, the bowler was also a spinner, so the ball had to be below waist height. It was a wrong no ball and Virat got clean bowled on the very next ball, if he is not out due to a free hit, it should be a dot ball. pic.twitter.com/TtfAfLVm1f— Shariq Abbasi (@i_shariq_i) 23 October 2022
The umpire gave a no ball when the batsman asked the umpire. #indvpak pic.twitter.com/xAbLD1z4pC— Sherlock Mind (@dreamdude12) 23 October 2022
Great Fight Pakistan! Well played India and Virat Kohli!
BTW it was not a no ball…
#PakVsInd— Arslan Naseer – CBA (@ArslanNaseerCBA) 23 October 2022
One foot outside the crease, never a no ball. complete disgrace. a great crime.#T20World Cup #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/g8miMwDzR9— John Burke (@SirJohnBurke) 23 October 2022
The only reason why no ball was not called was because as soon as Kohli hit the ball, he ran to the umpire to complain. — Dennis Kohli (@DennisCricket_) 23 October 2022
One foot outside the crease, never a no ball. complete disgrace.#T20World Cup , #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/rk5BxkusnQ— salar (@caniyaar) 23 October 2022
Why no ball was not reviewed, then how can it not be a dead ball when Kohli is bowled on a free hit. #INDvPAK #T20worldcup22 pic.twitter.com/ZCti75oEbd— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) 23 October 2022
Nawaz bowled wide after Mohammad Rizwan stumped Karthik and Ravichandran Ashwin hit the most important boundary of his career. ‘Chak De India’ reverberating around MCG has never been sweeter KohliIm numb. He punched the field, took a long walk, showed a thumb to the crowd restoring India’s supremacy in a global event.
Hardik PandyaThe most important team in India’s T20 cycle, they scored 40 runs in 37 balls in a partnership of 113. His ability to win matches for India due to a long lean patch, Kohli sang the perfect redemption song on the grandest stage.
It started in the 19th over when he sent a wicket off Haris Rauf and hit two sixes back to back. Cricket is indeed a level one as Rauf, 22 brilliant deliveries followed by two poor deliveries and it changed the tone of the game.
Nawaz bowled wide after Mohammad Rizwan stumped Karthik and Ravichandran Ashwin hit the most important boundary of his career. ‘Chak De India’ reverberating around the MCG never sounded sweeter and Kohli seemed numb. He punched the field, took a long walk, showed a thumb to the crowd restoring India’s supremacy in a global event. But the script could go awry.
KL Rahul’s struggle against fast pace and his conspicuous lack of footwork, cheap dismissals of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav spoiled the momentum set by Pandya and Arshdeep as they restricted Pakistan to 159 for 8.
In no time, India were 31 for 4 and Kohli and Pandya needed to be consolidated for the next four overs without losing a wicket. Pandya and Kohli, both disciples of the incomparable Mahendra Singh Dhoni, understand the grammar of chasing and the pace of the innings in T20 cricket. Only when leg-spinner Shadab Khan came into operation did Pandya give his hand a chance and send him into the stands. In Nawaz’s next over, Kohli treated him the same way while Pandya hit another six.
India needed 60 runs in the last five overs but Rauf and Naseem gave away six runs each in the 16th and 17th overs.
Exactly 364 days ago, Babar and Rizwan had medically destroyed the Indian bowling attack for their biggest T20I win of all time against India. But the rain left the MCG track under the covers for a few days and the subsequent addition of inherent moisture and generous tinge of green in and around the area of good length shouldn’t have brought joy to the hit opening pair.
Rohit’s captaincy was spot on as he did not bring Shami till the last over of the powerplay and brought in a spinner (Ashwin) for the first time in the ninth over. Starting in the back-10, Iftikhar hit four sixes in the space of five balls and Shami (1/25), coming back for his second spell, was trapped in the front with a fuller delivery at the end of 76. Third wicket stand.
Even after the dismissal of Iftikhar, Masood failed to pick up the pace. Pandya dismissed Shadab Khan, Haider Ali and Mohammad Nawaz early. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s quick strike took Pakistan past 150 but could not save the day with the ball.