Virat Kohli’s 82* Against Australia In 2016 Crowned As 'Greatest Moment' In T20 World Cup History
Published - 14 Oct 2021, 06:06 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:58 AM
Virat Kohli’s memorable knock of 82* off 51 balls versus Australia in Mohali during the 2016 T20 World Cup has been chosen as the ‘Greatest Moment’ in the history of the T20 World Cup.
Virat Kohli’s innings trumped over Carlos Brathwaite’s ‘Remember the name’ effort, wherein he smoked four sixes in four balls in the final off Ben Stokes to help West Indies to the 2016 title.
“We asked you to choose between countless iconic moments from the six ICC Men’s T20 World Cups so far, and you’ve made your pick – Kohli’s masterful chase against Australia in 2016, when his sensational 82* off 51 balls saw India to victory in the most thrilling fashion,” the ICC said.
“Brathwaite’s ‘Remember the Name’ moment – one of the seminal stories in T20 history – made it a tough final, but Kohli eventually came through, winning 68 per cent of the votes.”
Tasked with chasing 161 in a virtual knockout group game – the winner of which proceeds to the semi-final – India were in a spot at 49/3 inside 8 overs.
Virat Kohli, though, shouldered the responsibility, in a 45-run stand off 38 balls with Yuvraj Singh, who got out in the 14th over with India’s score 94/4.
Then began the Kohli-Dhoni show which would leave Aussie captain Steve Smith in puzzled. Not only both found boundaries, threading he gaps to the tee, but the hallmark of their partnership was the hard running between the wickets.
Virat Kohli forged a 31-ball 67-run partnership with MS Dhoni as both the great run-chases completed the chase. His innings was laced with 2 sixes and 9 fours, each more gorgeous than the other.
He would play another stunning knock in the semi-final versus West Indies – 89 runs off 47 balls wherein he smashed 11 fours to accompany a solitary six. However, Indian bowlers couldn’t defend 192 as the hosts bowed out of the tournament with a heart-breaking loss in the semifinal.
Virat Kohli was named as the Man of the Tournament, for scoring 273 runs in 5 matches at an incredible average of 136.50 while striking at 146.77. He’d now be leading India in the T20 World Cup in the UAE to fullfil his dream.
