Hardik Pandya reveals his strict order to Virat Kohli during historic IND-PAK MCG clash

India National Cricket Team all-rounder Hardik Pandya talked about the conversation he had with Virat Kohli during the game against Pakistan National Cricket Team in the T20 World Cup 2022. He said that as soon as he walked out to bat, he told Kohli to bat till the 20th over.

India National Cricket Team batter Virat Kohli came up with his best innings in T20Is during the game against Pakistan National Cricket Team in the T20 World Cup 2022. The match between the two teams took place at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne.

Virat Kohli snatched the game for his team from the jaws of defeat and helped his team win the match. His innings came at a time when the India National Cricket Team suffered a terrible collapse and lost the top and middle order in no time.

One of the vital support that Virat Kohli got came from Hardik Pandya. The all-rounder, along with the batter, soaked in all the pressure and made sure that he brought his team back into the game. The duo took the game deep to the last over before Kohli pulled off an incredible chase.

Virat Kohli played a magnificent innings of 82 runs off 53 balls, which was laced with six fours and four sixes. His innings was one of the most talked about things in world cricket and the six that he hit against Haris Rauf in the 19th over was declared the shot of the century.

As soon as I walked in, my only message to him was that he had to stay until the 20th over - Hardik Pandya

While talking about that innings, Hardik Pandya said that it was a steep hill to climb, but it was about believing in themselves and taking it step by step. He said that his prime objective was to make sure that Virat Kohli was playing till the last over. Speaking to ICC, he said:

"My first thought was obviously that we could do it. It looked like a very steep hill to climb, but for me, I’ve been in many games where you don’t lose a battle until you give up, right? So, it was about believing in ourselves, staying at the crease, and taking the game ball by ball, step by step.

"Let’s see who cracks under pressure. My primary objective in this game was for Virat to play as long as possible. As soon as I walked in, my only message to him was that he had to stay until the 20th over."

As soon as we targeted him, we could see panic setting in - Hardik Pandya on attacking Mohammad Nawaz

Hardik Pandya added that when Mohammad Nawaz came to bowl, he told Virat Kohli that he would go after him because he knew that he had to accelerate. He added that as soon as they saw Nawaz going for runs, they got panicked. He elaborated:

"When Nawaz came on to bowl, I specifically remember saying, ‘I’m going to go after him.’ I knew I had to accelerate. I knew that if the ball landed in my arc, I was going to attack. It was a great opportunity for us to win the game by being fearless because there was no room left for holding ourselves back—we had to play risky cricket. As soon as we targeted him, we could see panic setting in—the way players were running around on the field."

We were so excited. That shot (off Haris Rauf) was like breaking the opponent’s back - Hardik Pandya on Virat Kohli's six

Hardik Pandya talked about Virat Kohli's six against Hardik Pandya, saying that it was like breaking the opponent’s back. He concluded by saying that it is one of the iconic games that will always be remembered. He elaborated:

"Pure emotion, man. We were so excited. That shot (off Haris Rauf) was like breaking the opponent’s back. When you stay in the fight, you stay in the hunt, and a lot of things start going your way. This is one of those iconic games that will always be remembered," Pandya said.

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