NE SPORTS BUREAU
MELBOURNE, OCT 23
Virat Kohli single-handedly powered India to an epic four-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan with a magnificent 53-ball 82 not out in their big-ticket T20 World Cup game here on Sunday.
A perfect way to start the T20 World Cup…Deepawali begins 🙂
What a cracking innings by @imVkohli.
Congratulations to the entire team. #ICCT20WorldCup2022
— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) October 23, 2022
Pakistan recovered from a wobbly start to post a fighting 159 for eight. India completed the chase in the last ball, with Kohli and Hardik Pandya (40) doing the bulk of the scoring after a horror start to their innings. The two revived India with a 113-run stand for the fourth wicket after they were reeling at 31/4 at one stage.
Special win ✅
Special performance ✅
And fair to say, the social media was abuzz 👌 👌#TeamIndia | #T20WorldCup | #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/DCP0W78kVu
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 23, 2022
Sent in to bat, Pakistan were well served by Iftikhar Ahmed’s 34-ball 51 and Shan Masood’s unbeaten 52 off 42 balls after they lost their first two wickets with just 15 runs on the board in the fourth over.
What it meant to win at The G! 💪🏻
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/mc9useyHwY #TeamIndia | #T20WorldCup | #INDvPAK | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/A1uFG5Lbxr
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 23, 2022
For India, Arshdeep Singh was among the most successful bowlers in the much-awaited match of the tournament, finishing with figures 3/32 in four overs at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
For his stunning match-winning knock, @imVkohli bags the Player of the Match award. 👏 👏
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/mc9usehEuY #TeamIndia | #T20WorldCup | #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/xF7LfA4Od5
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 23, 2022
If it was not for the 14 runs in the 19th over, Arshdeep would have ended with better figures. Playing in his maiden World Cup, left-arm pacer Arshdeep gave India early breakthroughs before Pakistan steadied things with a 76-run partnership for the third wicket.
Bromance ♥️🫂🤝🏼#TeamIndia | #T20WorldCup | #INDvPAK | @ImRo45 | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/gjDQcu0Ppn
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 23, 2022
All-rounder Hardik Pandya bagged impressive figures of 3/30 in four overs after Mohammed Shami removed a well-set Iftikhar to trigger a slide.
Scores
Pakistan: 159/8 in 20 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 51, Shan Masood 52 not out; Arshdeep Singh 3/32, Hardik Pandya 3/30).
India: 160 for six in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 82 not out, Hardik Pandya 40; Haris Rauf 2/36).
