India, captained by Rohit Sharma, had its own scars—a 10-wicket drubbing at the hands of Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup was fresh in memory. This was the rematch. And the MCG, the spiritual home of Australian cricket, was packed to the rafters. Rohit Sharma won the toss and, in a decision that surprised many, opted to bowl first on a pitch that traditionally favored batting under lights. The move backfired initially.
In the end, the scoreboard read (20 overs) vs. Pakistan 159/8 (20 overs). But numbers will never capture the sheer, unrelenting drama of October 23, 2022. india vs pakistan t20 world cup 2022 full match
Openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, the most prolific T20I pair in the world, started cautiously against the pace of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh. But once settled, they accelerated. Rizwan was the aggressor, flicking, cutting, and scooping with precision. Babar played second fiddle, holding the innings together. India, captained by Rohit Sharma, had its own
Now, 6 runs needed off 4 balls. Kohli was run out attempting a second run on the next ball—or so everyone thought. The third umpire ruled that the bowler had knocked the bails off before Kohli made his ground? No. Actually, it was a direct hit from the deep, but Kohli’s bat was in. Wait—replays showed he was short. Then confusion reigned. Eventually, Kohli was given out. But he had already done his job. Rohit Sharma won the toss and, in a
The MCG exploded in blue. The Aftermath: Kohli’s Redemption Arc Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 82 off 53 balls —an innings that had no cover drives for two hours, but six sixes and four fours when it mattered most. It was his first T20I fifty in over three years, and it came in the biggest possible game.
When Rizwan fell for a well-made 43 off 42 balls, Shan Masood took over. The left-hander played a breathtaking cameo, smashing 38 off 28 balls, including two massive sixes off Arshdeep. Pakistan posted a formidable in their 20 overs.