Happy Diwali to all of our readers and there could not have been a better article that I could have written on this special day . The match that took place yesterday at the MCG between India and Pakistan in front of 90,293 fans which was an all time record for a neutral match was something that I will never forget in my life. Hours before the match even began the weather gods showed mercy and the rain stayed away and the fans were queuing up hours before at the MCG. Those 4-5 hours that I watched the TV yesterday will be one of the most special experiences as a cricket fan.
Just before the match it was time for the national anthems and the goosebumps were felt everywhere as both Pakistani and Indian players felt the occasion. The most famous reaction was that of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma who was teary eyed by the end of the Indian National anthem. Now it is time to talk about the match.
India have the perfect start
Firstly India won the toss and chose to bowl first at such overcast conditions so that was a big win and then Arshdeep Singh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar did their magic as Arshdeep Singh removed both Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan cheaply and India were rolling.
Pakistan make a comeback
After those 2 wickets it was the comeback fr Pakistan and mainly Shan Masood and Iftikhar Ahmed as they stitched a great partnership and brought Pakistan back in the game to the point where they were 91-2. And after that Pakistan did a Pakistan.
The collapse
As Pakistan were going along smoothly, then they started playing shots which were beyond expectation as it was like they wanted to get out one after the other as first Iftikhar Ahmed got out, then Shadab Khan and then the very good Mohammad Nawaz. Pakistan were 7 wickets down and it looked all India but Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shan Masood took Pakistan to 159 which was a very good score on this pitch.
India got off to the worst possible start
As soon as the Indian innings started it was clear that this total would be very hard to Chase down and KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma got out cheaply and then in no time Surya Kumar Yadav and Axar Patel got out and it was 31-4 and it looked curtains for India. Lots of fans must have switched off the TV and thought that another loss was coming.
The Virat and Hardik partnership
After all that it looked like an easy win for Pakistan but Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya said not today. They started building the partnership from scratch and over and over, they got their confidence and we’re getting fours and sixes at every opportunity. Hardik attacked Mohammad Nawaz and then something sensational and cerebral happened. They had the best 5th wicket partnership for India at 113 runs and it could not have come at a better situation.
The King Is Back
I have to dedicate one separate portion of this article for the greatest T20I Innings played by an Indian Batter and among the Top 5 of all time. What Virat Kohli achieved yesterday was the stuff that dreams are made of. It was the old sensational and cerebral Virat Kohli and when he is in that zone, nobody can stop him. India needed 48 runs in 3 overs and Virat Kohli first attacked Shaheen Shah Afridi for fours and then in the 19th over he hit 2 sixes of the last 2 balls of Haris Rauf. The first six straight down the ground was an impossible shot which he made it look so easy and then the second flick shot for six.
The Dramatic Last Over
India needed 16 runs from the last over and it was Mohammad Nawaz bowling and Hardik Pandya got out and then Dinesh Karthik came to bat and he took a single. The next ball was a waist high no ball which was dispatched for a six by Virat Kohli and India needed 5 runs from 3 Balls and then they ran 3 runs in the free hit. It was 2 from 2 balls and DK got out and then Ashwin cake in and he was cool as a cucumber as he left the first ball for a wide and it was 1 run from 1 ball and in the last ball he hit the ball over mid off and India won the most incredible match and have the nation the perfect Diwali gift.
Also Read | King Kohli is Back
