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Was Virat Kohli’s 82* vs Pakistan the greatest T20I innings of all time?

Why Virat Kohli’s 82 vs Pakistan is the greatest T20I innings of all time. The fact that it came against Pakistan in a World Cup match in front of 90000+ fans at the MCG and more than 500 million people watching on TV.

Harsh Chopra
Last updated: 30.10.2022
Was Virat Kohli 82 vs Pakistan the greatest T20I innings of all time

I know this question is in the minds of a lot of fans who follow the sport and this is something that is being discussed around the world because that innings by Virat Kohli was something that only happens once or twice in a lifetime and the fact that it came against Pakistan in a World Cup match in front of 90000+ fans at the MCG and more than 500 million people watching on TV. The context makes it a case for this innings to be mentioned here.

Let’s get straight to the point and talk about why this Virat Kohli should be in the conversation for the best T20I innings of all time and I mean international cricket.


The magnitude of the match

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The first thing that is being taken into consideration is the magnitude of the match. If not some match that is being played between India and any associate nation in a bilateral series. It is India vs Pakistan in the first league match of the T20I World Cup and it was in MCG in front of 90,000 people. This Innings will be remembered forever because of how big the match was.


The context of the Match


Then we come to the actual match and Indiweee in such a situation where the match was lost and 99% of the time Pakistan should have won the match. India were 31-4 and they were dead and buried and Virat Kohli was feeling the pressure. He started slowly making 12 runs from 21 balls and then he and Hardik Pandya stitched a legendary partnership of over 100 runs and they brought back in the match. In the last 3 overs India needed 48 runs and it looked lost and then Virat Kohli took apart Shaheen Shah Afridi to the cleaners hitting fours and six.


The 19th Over


Then came the 19th over and this over solidified this innings as one of the best of all time. Haris Rauf was in his element and India needed 28 from 8 balls and in 18.5 Virat Kohli hit the most ridiculous shot as Haris Rauf bowled a short ball and he hit a six straight down the ground from the middle of the bat and everyone was shocked and in the last ball of the over he flicked the ball to over fine leg for six and it was 16 runs from 6 balls.


The 20th over


Then It was the last over and Mohammad Nwaz was Bowling and Virat Kohli hit another six and it was a no ball and then in the free hit ball he ran 3 byes and then India won the match of the last ball and Virat Kohli finished with 82* from 53 balls with 6 fours and 4 sixes. And he is just getting started.

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