Team India registered an emphatic win against Pakistan on Sunday, October 23 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Super 12 stage of the 2022 T20 World Cup. Veteran batter Virat Kohli probably played the innings of his life to chasing down 160 runs. His partnership with Hardik Pandya set the tone for India’s win. The duo relived the memorable chase in a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
All-rounder Hardik Pandya expressed that he would have taken a bullet for Virat Kohli during the innings. The duo added 113 runs for the fifth wicket stand, which changed the momentum of the match. Hardik Pandya scored 40 runs off 37 deliveries, while Kohli stayed unbeaten on 82 runs off 53 deliveries.
“When I was coming in to bat, you saw it. I would have taken a bullet for you but not not let you get out at that point in time. My goal was simple. Your life had to be easy because you have done it over the years in crucial games. And no one is better than handling pressure than you,” said Hardik Pandya.
“I just wanted to play and didn’t want either of us to get out. Though we had players to come and who could help us win the game, which they eventually did. But for me it was important that you and I stayed. I believed that we could do it, even when 40 were needed off 3 overs, even when we were missing the ball, I knew one of us will pull off something special,” he added.
Of special knocks, game-changing sixes & thrilling victory at the MCG! 👌 💪
𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹: Men of the moment – @imVkohli & @hardikpandya7 – chat after #TeamIndia beat Pakistan in the #T20WorldCup. 👏 👏 – By @RajalArora
Full interview 🎥 🔽 #INDvPAKhttps://t.co/3QKftWa7dk pic.twitter.com/sK7TyLFcSI
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 24, 2022
I was numb today. I was just happy: Hardik Pandya
All-rounder Hardik Pandya further expressed that the Indian camp was tensed during the chase, as they were on the back foot. He added that post-win the players were elated for each other. Hardik Pandya said, as quoted by Indian Express,
“I sensed a lot of pressure in our room, I could sense it. It was a big game, but for me, I do not know, for some odd reason, I was very numb today when I came to the ground. This is where I wanted to be and I am just happy to be here. The quality of relationship which I have in this group is something I cherish”
Team India will take on the Netherlands in their second match of the 2022 T20 World Cup on Thursday, October 27 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
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