Hardik Pandya reveals what he told Virat Kohli ahead of hitting two crucial sixes against Pakistan at the MCG in the T20 World Cup. Discover the conversation that fueled India’s iconic win.
New Delhi: Virat Kohli‘s match-winning and unforgettable knock against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022 at the MCG remains etched in everyone’s memory. It was Kohli’s batting brilliance that guided India to a thrilling victory from the brink of defeat, all while facing their arch-rivals, Pakistan.
Meanwhile, 27 months later, India’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has shared the key conversation he had with Virat Kohli during the tense clash against Pakistan. Pandya recalled that as he walked out to bat, he immediately told Kohli to stay at the crease until the 20th over, knowing how crucial his presence would be for India’s chances.
Kohli played one of his finest T20I innings in that thrilling match against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The game was a nail-biter, as India experienced a dramatic batting collapse, losing their top and middle order in quick succession, leaving the team in a precarious position.
Hardik Pandya reveals a key conversation with Virat Kohli during the historic IND vs PAK clash at the MCG. Despite the mounting pressure and India’s dramatic collapse, Kohli refused to give up and fought until the very end, ultimately leading India to victory. During his remarkable innings, Kohli found a strong ally in Hardik Pandya. The duo absorbed immense pressure, stabilizing the innings and bringing India back into the game. Their partnership took the match into the final over, setting the stage for Kohli’s incredible chase.
Kohli’s scintillating knock of 82 runs off 53 balls, featuring six fours and four sixes, became a global talking point. His iconic six against Haris Rauf in the 19th over was even hailed by some as the “shot of the century.”
Reflecting on that unforgettable innings, Hardik Pandya described the tense situation as “a steep hill to climb.” Speaking to the ICC, Pandya revealed that his main objective was to ensure Kohli stayed at the crease until the final over, knowing how crucial his presence was in leading India to victory.
“My first thought was obviously that we could do it. It looked like a very steep hill to climb, but for me, I’ve been in many games where you don’t lose a battle until you give up, right? So, it was about believing in ourselves, staying at the crease, and taking the game ball by ball, step by step,” the star all-rounder told ICC.
“Let’s see who cracks under pressure. My primary objective in this game was for Virat to play as long as possible. As soon as I walked in, my only message to him was that he had to stay until the 20th over,” he added.
Hardik further explained his strategy during the crucial partnership. He recounted telling Kohli that he would target Mohammad Nawaz when the bowler came on, recognizing the need to accelerate the scoring rate. Hardik noted that the Pakistani team became visibly panicked as they saw Nawaz conceding runs.
“When Nawaz came on to bowl, I specifically remember saying, ‘I’m going to go after him.’ I knew I had to accelerate. I knew that if the ball landed in my arc, I was going to attack. It was a great opportunity for us to win the game by being fearless because there was no room left for holding ourselves back—we had to play risky cricket. As soon as we targeted him, we could see panic setting in—the way players were running around on the field.”
“Pure emotion, man. We were so excited. That shot (off Haris Rauf) was like breaking the opponent’s back. When you stay in the fight, you stay in the hunt, and a lot of things start going your way. This is one of those iconic games that will always be remembered,” Pandya concluded.
The dynamic duo will reunite for India’s second ODI against England, which is set to begin on February 6 in Nagpur. While Hardik enters the series fresh off India’s victorious T20I run against England, Kohli will be looking to regain his form in the ODI series after struggling with his batting in recent Ranji Trophy and Border-Gavaskar Trophy matches.
