'Couldn't Watch It Live But..': Rohit Sharma Recounts Virat Kohli's MCG Masterclass At 2022 T20 World Cup

Former India T20I skipper Rohit Sharma has admitted that he couldn't watch his team's match against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup but acknowledged the partnership between Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya that turned the game in India's favour. Rohit shared his emotions over the match that had thousands in the stadium and across the world glued to the game. In a high-pressure situation, India found themselves struggling to chase down Pakistan's total of 159. With wickets falling, the side was in a precarious position and nerves were running high. When it seemed like Pakistan would be beating India in two successive editions of the T20 World Cup, Kohli and Pandya built an exceptional partnership to turn the tide in India's favour. "We were in trouble. I'm a very nervous guy so I was sitting inside the dressing room and couldn't watch it live, but Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya's partnership turned the game on. I came out in the final overs and enjoyed the match," Rohit said while speaking to ICC during the 2024 T20 World Cup in June.

Batting first, Shan Masood and Iftikhar Ahmed's half-centuries led Pakistan to a respectable 159/8 in their 20 overs. In the chase, India were reduced to 31/4 and the signs weren't good for them. Kohli and Pandya then added 113 runs for the fifth wicket to take India to 144 before the latter was dismissed on the first delivery of the final over. The pressure was back on Kohli and after he added 14 runs with Dinesh Karthik, the latter was stumped. Two runs were needed off the last ball and Mohammad Nawaz bowled a wide to Ravichandran Ashwin, with the equation coming down to one off one. Ashwin took a single off the last ball as India pulled off an unimaginable heist.