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Speaking about his thought process while entering the field at that point, Pandya stated that all he cared about was making sure that Kohli played till the very end
Pandya and Kohli revived India’s chase after a top-order collapse (ICC Media)
One of the most iconic India-Pakistan encounters was played at the MCG in Australia in 2022, an encounter that shall go down as one of the most memorable in the heated rivalry between India and Pakistan.
In a recent interview with ICC, Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya recalled how he executed the thrilling chase alongside the talisman Virat Kohli, who led the Men in Blue to an unforgettable four-wicket win in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Fifties from Shan Masood and Iftikhar Ahmed helped Pakistan overcome an ordinary start and set India a target of 160. And it looked like Pakistan would seal back-to-back wins over their arch-rivals when India were 31/4 courtesy of a fiery spell from Haris Rauf.
Speaking about the thought process while entering the field at that point, Pandya stated that all he cared about was making sure that Kohli played till the very end, and not about himself.
“I don’t play for Hardik Pandya. I play for the team, I play for India. I don’t give much importance to when I come in to play, I just want to play the best cricket I can play in whichever situation I am needed. I think that has helped me in my career a lot.”
“My first thought coming into the crease was that we could do it. I knew it was a very steep hill to climb, but I have been in many games where you don’t lose a battle until you give up. It’s just about believing in yourself,” Pandya stated in the interview with ICC.
“My primary objective was to ensure that Virat played till the end. So, my only message to him was “You have to play till the 20th over”.
Kohli played a magnificent innings, and with support from Hardik Pandya took the game to the final stages.
As India closed in, Kohli unleashed a flurry of exquisite strokes, including an iconic six behind the bowler.
“Just pure emotion. It just sparked such excitement, the shot he (Kohli) played. It was literally the shot that broke the opponent’s back. It sent a statement.”
“When you stay in the fight, in the hunt, a lot of things come your way. It was one of the most iconic games, and one that will remain so.”
