ICC T20 World Cup 2022 || India Vs Pakistan || Group Stage

A day before Diwali, one of the biggest tournaments in the World Cup happened between India and Pakistan. I am a bit late to describe my feelings but better late than ever. The maximum strength of Melbourne Cricket Ground, famously known as MCG, is around 1,00,024 of around 90K space was filled by the enthusiastic fans of both the teams. 

It was magnificent to see fans turning out to the stadium to watch this fantastic match at the beginning of the tournament. After Covid, we are seeing this kind of atmosphere in the stadium. 

Pakistan Batting:

After winning the toss, India decided to field first allowing the arch-rivals Pakistan to bat first for twenty overs. 

India started brilliantly by ripping off the first 2 wickets within the first 4 overs. One might say that it is supposed to be India's game at this point. In were, Ifthikar Ahmed and Shan Masood. I did not hear much about Shan Masood before this game. At this point, I too had thought that it will be quite difficult for Pakistan to reach 130 runs in their specified 20 overs.

Thanks to the wit and grit of both Shan Masood and Ifthikar, they were able to stretch the partnership to 76 in a span of 12 overs. With the partnership going quite strong, Indian Captain - Rohit Sharma, brought back Mohammed Shami to bowl the 13th over. In the fourth ball of the 13th over, Shami was able to break the partnership through perfect delivery sending Ifthikar back to the pavilion through the leg-before wicket (LBW) appeal. 

The next over was bowled by Hardik Pandya. After winning the IPL trophy for Gujurat Titans, he was back in action. He took 2 wickets in the same over, sending both Shadab Khan and Haider Ali. Following these two batsmen, the next one to follow was Mohammad Nawaz. All of these three batsmen scored in single digits and were sent back by Hardik Pandya. One might state that wickets were falling on one side, but Shan Masood was still going strong. He finished a well-deserved 50 and was able to push the total for Pakistan to 159 runs in the allotted 20 overs. 

After a dismal start, I must state that Pakistan did a commendable job by posting a 160-run target for India for the second innings. Pakistan is known to have a fierce set of bowlers. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf. These three bowlers are the prime speedsters for Pakistan. With Indian bowlers doing a commendable job while bowling in the first innings, one needs to say that people in Indian fans were a bit dicey.

Indian Batting

India batsmen Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul came to the center stage. The crowd was quite ecstatic and ready for witnessing a spectacle chase. The average speed at which the Pakistan bowlers were bowling was around 140-145 KM/Hr. On the last ball of the second over, KL Rahul dragged the ball onto his stumps and had to leave for the pavilion. Soon Rohit Sharma too followed the pavilion. A brilliant delivery by Harris Rauf and a catch by Ifthikar sent the hitman back to the dugout. Virat Kohli, on the other end of the pitch, was calm and composed. It is a fact that Virat Kohli prefers chasing targets and is known to be a beast while doing so.

In came Surya Kumar Yadav in the middle and played a few amazing shots. But after that, he too perished. A ploy used by the Indian team was to send Axar Patel to the top to try and increase the scoring rate as at this point it was way low than one can expect. Tension and fear were looming amongst the Indian fans. People were starting to lose hope. But one thing was sure, former Indian Captain in the crease with complete calm and composure. In came Hardik to support Virat Kohli and boy, it was time for the momentum to change and twist toward the Indian side. As the celebration of Diwali was to begin in the evening, people did not know that the actual burst is just around the corner. 

After 10 overs, India was wailing at 45 runs at the loss of 4 wickets. Virat Kohli at 12 from 20 balls and Hardik Pandya at 7 from 11 balls. Both players decided that losing any more wickets going forward will only make things difficult for the Indian team. The play started to turn towards the Indian side from the 11th over. Shadab Khan came to bowl the 11th over and was beaten for 9 runs. The next over by Mohammad Nawaz produced, 20 runs with 3 sixers, 2 by Hardik, and 1 by Kohli.

India reached the three-figure mark in the 15th over. With the last 5 overs, India needed 60 runs to complete the chase. With Virat at the crease, the people of India believed that the run machine is up to something special. The next couple of overs produced 12 runs, leaving India needing 48 runs in the last three overs. 16 runs in the next three overs consecutively. With an amazing shot to the boundary, Virat Kohli amazingly reached his fifty. with 17 runs scored in the 17th over, India needed 31 runs from the last 12 deliveries. Pakistan brought Harris Rauf back to the attack because he bowled brilliantly throughout his spell.

Tension spread across both sides, with 31 needed off the last 12 deliveries. People were not in their seats as well. the first 4 deliveries just produced 3 runs leaving 28 runs needed off the last 8 deliveries. 

In comes, Rauf with pace and vigor, just to see Virat Kohli hit him straight over the bowler's head for a magnificent six. Next ball, same result. This time the six was scored on the left of the fine leg. An elegant flick and off-the-ball sailed across the stadium. 

In the last over, India needed 16 runs off the final 6 deliveries. Everybody was pumped and as one might say, it is never easy to predict which team is winning during India vs Pakistan. Pakistan decided that they will let Mohammad Nawaz bowl the final over. Hardik Pandya tries to slog toward the leg side, loses control, and gives away his wicket after scoring 40 runs. An amazing partnership of 113 runs came to an end. Arrived Dinesh Karthik, is the next batsman. In the next 2 deliveries, 3 runs were scored, leaving 13 needed off the last three deliveries. The fourth delivery ended up being a full toss and bam!!!, hit for a six over the legside. To add salt to the pain, it was called to be a no-ball and declaring it as a free hit. In the next two deliveries, India scored 4 runs, leaving 2 needed off the last two deliveries. Dinesh Karthik was on strike and had miscued the delivery that was supposed to be wide. He came out of his crease to put the ball away, only to miss it and get stumped instantaneously.

With one ball remaining, the equation now read as 2 runs needed for the last deliveries. Ravichandran Ashwin came into the crease with complete calm. Mohammad Nawaz bowled the delivery, and Ashwin judged the ball to be going towards the leg side left the ball. One must state that it was an amazing thought process, to stay calm and leave the delivery getting an extra run, making the equation as 1 run needed off the last delivery. Last delivery by Mohammad Nawaz, Ashwin clears the fielders and India wins.

It is one of the best chases that I have witnessed over the last couple of years. With pleasure, I can say that Virat Kohli is back in form, and people, mind you, he is not done yet. One of the classic chases under the T20 segment and boy, one should state that it was a paisa vasool for all the Indian fans who came to watch the match live from the Melbourne Cricket Ground Stadium.

It has been years, since I last posted something on sports, especially cricket. Never late than ever, will be posting on all matches going forward. I am sure you guys would have also seen India Vs Pakistan yesterday. Share your thoughts and Comments. Happy to hear them out.. :)