IND v PAK World T20 Review: India ride on Virat Kohli heroics

The much-anticipated Indo-Pak fixture had it’s fair share of emotions. The match just had everything. Two cross-country rivals, the greatest legends of the game, the best movie stars in the land and not to forget, the irresistible rain intervention. It was clear from the outset that the team that held its nerve would go on to win. Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 55 of just 37 balls on a diabolical Kolkata wicket ensured that the Indians beat off their arch-rivals to secure a 6-wicket win.

With a cocktail or rain and humidity evident at the makeshift venue, MS Dhoni won the toss and opted to chase. In contrast, to their previous fixture, Pakistan openers Ahmed Shehzad and Sharjeel Khan seemed constrained by the dryness of the surface and the discipline of Ashish Nehra. Realizing that the surface offered turn and bounce, Dhoni brought on his not so secret weapon – Ravichandran Ashwin. While the bowlers managed to tie down the opposition, Sharjeel and Shehzad began to get impatient. Suresh Raina, a part-time off-spinner, came into the attack with Dhoni looking to squeeze out an over from his trusted lieutenant. The move was nothing short of masterful. Sharjeel fell first as he walked into the trap of Suresh Raina.

Ahmed Shehzad showed a bit of intent after the fall of Sharjeel. However, a miscue from a Jasprit Bumrah cutter meant that he too made his way back to the dugout, dismissed for 25. Shahid Afridi’s slap-hoick towards the long on fence and dismissed for a single-figure score meant that the Pakistanis were looking down the barrel with barely a quarter of the game played.

Also read: You need new challenges every innings that you play: Virat Kohli

Enter Shoaib Malik. Malik is a favorite of the Indian fans. Despite hailing from the other side of the border, he is an entertainer and someone who can tear up a scripted innings to absolute shreds. Playing in India after a substantial amount of time, Malik’s intervention almost ‘cured’ the Pakistanis of their unfortunate predicament. After a few boundaries, Malik slammed a hapless Jasprit Bumrah straight into the stands. He was well supported by Umar Akmal as the latter cut and pulled the Indian attack before swing a Hardik Pandya delivery into the stands. Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal scored 26 and 22 respectively, ensuring that Pakistan gave their ferocious bowling attack a defendable total. In their quota of 18 overs, it seemed as though Pakistan had indeed got the job done with an impressive 118/5.

Although chasing just so happens to be right down the alley for the Indians, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan stood directly in the line of fire of one Mohammad Amir. In fact, the first delivery of the Indian innings beat the outside edge of Sharma’s bat by a whisker. It wasn’t before long that Amir claimed his first wicket. Rohit Sharma’s irresistible urge to go for the big shot, especially while facing Amir, proved to be a bad idea. He was dismissed for 10 after a solid-looking start.

Virat Kohli, India’s greatest hope, walked out to join Shikhar Dhawan. The latter’s troubles, however, continued as he failed to find the gaps. He took 15 balls to compile a paltry 6 runs after being beaten for pace by Mohammad Sami. Sami however, wasn’t done yet. He sent Raina’s off-stump for a walk as a hat-trick beckoned for the 35-year old pacer. Enter Yuvraj Singh.

The southpaw had just become the beneficiary to a series of good performances with the bat. Some sensible batting with his partner Virat Kohli ensured that the Indians not only rotated the strike but also kept the scoring rate in check. Finally, with the overs getting coming thick and fast, the duo went for the kill.

Despite Yuvraj picking out Sami at the deep and heading back to the dugout after scoring 24, the Indians were well on their way to an easy win. Virat Kohli’s 55 off 37 was nothing short of masterclass. MS Dhoni once again underlined his finishing credentials with a six right at the death. The win sees Indians back on track following a demoralizing loss and back in contention for semi-final qualification. It would seem as though yet another World T20 dream has been miraculously saved.

Brief Scores

Pakistan: 118/5 in 18 overs (Malik 26; Raina 1/4)

India: 119/4 in 155. Overs (Kohli 55*; Sami 2/17)

Man of the match: Virat Kohli