Melbourne: India and Pakistan have been involved in numerous exciting cricket contests over the years. But what 90,000 fans present at the gigantic MCG and billions on television witnessed on Sunday surpassed all close finishes of the past.
And it was that man Virat Kohli who defied all odds and helped his team achieve the impossible.
No wonder the entire team rushed to the ground after Ravichandran Ashwin chipped the ball over the in-field for the winning run.
As a teary-eyed Virat looked up at the sky to say his prayers, elated skipper Rohit Sharma lifted the Melbourne hero.
Watch the scenes that unfolded at Melbourne, in this video posted by ICC:
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THE DRAMATIC FINAL OVER
It looked impossible at one stage, as Team India needed 48 runs in 3 overs against one of the best bowling attacks in the world. Ten balls later, the equation was a stiff 28 runs off 8 balls.
Former captain Kohli, who recently came out of a prolonged lean patch, took matters in his own hands and turned the game on its head by smashing Haris Rauf for two sensations sixes to end the 19th over.
The final over produced drama rarely seen on a cricket field. With India needing 16 runs in 6 balls, Hardik Pandya was dismissed by left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz off Ball 1.
Dinesh Karthik managed a single off the second ball, Kohli took 2 off the third, leaving India to get 13 off 3 balls.
Nawaz’s high full toss was swung away for 6 by Kohli, and the umpire signalled a no-ball for height infringement – a decision protested by Pakistan fielders. But the umpires didn’t budge, and the target was down to 6 runs off 3 balls.
A wide ball followed, and then Kohli was bowled off the next ball — but it didn’t count as it was a free-hit. As the ball ran away to thirdman after hitting the stumps, Kohli and Karthik ran three byes.
With 2 needed off 2 balls, Karthik was dismissed, stumped.
Still 2 needed, last ball to go.
The tension got to Nawaz, and he delivered a legside wide which Ashwin coolly let go.
The scores were level. Pakistan needed a dot ball to force a tie and Super Over. But a calm Ashwin scooped the ball over mid-off and ran the winning single.
All hell broke loose at MCG.
Also Read: My Best T20 Knock, Says Virat; Skipper Rohit Hails Best Ever Innings For India
