In four matches in the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, former India captain Virat Kohli scored three half-centuries and was named Player of the Match thrice. Moreover, the mystical batsman has worked miracles every time he has been on the field. So, it’s not just the Indian crowd that’s been blown away by his play. Even Australian legends like Mark Taylor and Ian Chappell have heaped accolades on Kohli for his consistent play and impressive strokes.
After a lacklustre few years in the batting crease, Virat Kohli came into the T20 World Cup determined to make a statement. In the opening game, against India’s bitter rivals Pakistan, he scored an undefeated 82. This proved to be the difference in a nail-biting victory for the home team.
Kohli smashed two sixes off Haris Rauf in the 19th over of India’s chase. Thus putting his team back in the game. Using the back of the bat, he hit six straight down the ground. The shot has been called the “shot of the tournament” by several commentators.
What did Mark Taylor say about Virat Kohli and his shot against Haris Rauf?
Mark Taylor, a former Australian cricketer, recently acknowledged on Wide World of Sports that he had no idea how Kohli pulled off that particular shot.
“I still rate the one at MCG where he hit Haris Rauf for a six back over his head, off the back foot, with a straight bat,” Taylor said.
“It still went 90 metres. I can’t still work it out how that ball went for a six. I reckon if I hit that shot, mid-on would have been running in, diving in to take a catch!”, he added.
One of the panellists, Ian Chappel, remembered a previous interview with Kohli in which the Indian legend explained why he avoids playing risky shots in T20 matches.
So far, Kohli has scored the most runs of any player in the competition with 220. It’s incredible that in four matches he’s been dismissed only once.
India beat Pakistan in their opening game
India defeated Pakistan by four wickets in a nail-biting Twenty20 World Cup 2022 match. The match was played on Sunday (23rd October) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Blues overcame Pakistan by scoring 164 in response to a target of 160. This is an excellent way to commemorate Choti Diwali.
Virat Kohli, the team’s former captain, scored an unbelievable 82 runs off just 53 balls. India won a nail-biting contest thanks in large part to Kohli’s amazing knock. To put it mildly, nobody can retain their cool. Quickly after India’s dominating victory against Pakistan, the hashtag #WhatAGame began trending on Twitter as fans everywhere reacted with awe.
There were just six balls left, and India needed 16 runs to win. With India needing one off the last ball and Mohammad Nawaz bowling a wide down the leg side. Then, R Ashwin lofted Nawaz off the in-field to seal the victory for India.
Twitter Reacts:
Tell him that its just becoz BCCI is richest board…..Keep crying Pakistanis🤣😜
— Shridhar (@bhojane10) November 4, 2022
BCCI has bribed the ball to go out of the park
— Dr Ayush Rungta (@Ayushrungta22) November 4, 2022
Must be some sort of cheating by the ICC.
— NETIZEN (@immmmmDB) November 4, 2022
Because BCCI paid the ball no? @TheRealPCB
— Hridyansh Rai (@RaiHridyansh) November 4, 2022
https://twitter.com/krranthihere/status/1588440012043210752?s=20&t=Yttnx3Ol_VTeNCOTmt61DQ
Transformation of weight followed by bat swing helped the ball to sail through.
— Srikanth Natarajan (@SrikanthNatara2) November 4, 2022
BCCI ki wajah se 😂
— Pranjal Jha (@hpranjaljha) November 4, 2022
Experience can't be read out 😊
— 🙂 शुभम् 🙂 (@shubhaaan) November 4, 2022
https://twitter.com/vivek_434/status/1588451062289399808?s=20&t=Yttnx3Ol_VTeNCOTmt61DQ