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Cometh the hour, cometh the man in this case, the phenomenon that is Virat Kohli. In the final over of a high-stakes T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, everything that could happen did, and more. With India staring at an improbable chase, Kohli didn’t just bat-he transcended. He became a feeling, lifting the hopes of a billion people with each stroke of brilliance.
Two years ago at a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground, in a game where chaos reigned, Kohli brought calm, orchestrating a run chase that defied belief. As India sealed a dramatic victory, the emotion on his face told the story: it was not just a win, but a moment of pure magic. In front of 90,000 roaring fans, Kohli played an unforgettable knock of 82* off 53 balls, turning what seemed like a lost cause into one of cricket’s most thrilling finishes.
Pakistan had posted a competitive 159/8 after fifties from Shan Masood and Iftikhar Ahmed, and despite the efforts of India’s bowlers, particularly Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya who picked up three wickets each, India’s chase faltered early. Captain Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Suryakumar Yadav fell cheaply, leaving India reeling at 31/4 after just six overs.
The pressure was palpable as Pakistan’s fast bowlers, led by Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, looked set to repeat their stunning 10-wicket win over India in the previous World Cup. But Kohli, joined by Hardik Pandya, held firm. Together, they mounted a steady fightback, building a vital 113-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Though the required run rate kept rising, Kohli’s calm and composure in the face of mounting odds ensured India stayed in the game.
With 48 runs needed off the last three overs, India’s chances appeared slim. But Kohli began to unleash, smashing Shaheen Afridi for three boundaries in the 18th over to keep hope alive. When Haris Rauf conceded just three runs off his first four deliveries in the 19th over, it seemed Pakistan would hold on for a famous win.
Then came the turning point. Kohli produced two jaw-dropping sixes off Rauf’s final two deliveries, defying belief and bringing India within striking distance. Those two shots – one a straight loft over Rauf’s head and the other flicked off his legs over fine leg – left the bowler and fans alike in stunned disbelief.
India now needed 16 from the final over. Mohammad Nawaz, tasked with bowling the most pressure-packed over of the match, took Pandya’s wicket off the first ball, leaving R Ashwin to join Kohli at the crease. Amidst no-balls, wides, and stumping attempts, Kohli’s brilliance guided India home. He slammed a six off a no-ball, ran quick byes off a bowled free-hit, and finally, with just two needed off the last ball, Ashwin calmly lofted Nawaz over mid-off to secure a thrilling victory.
“I have no words,” Kohli said after the match, his voice choked with emotion. “I have no idea how we pulled that off.” His innings of 82*, filled with heart-stopping moments, is now etched in cricketing folklore, earning comparisons to some of the greatest knocks in the sport’s history.