Learnt That You've Just Got To Stay In The Game: Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli-led India’s winning start to the tour of New Zealand continued in dramatic fashion as they beat the hosts on Friday in yet another super over to win the fourth T20I. After New Zealand failed to score only seven runs in the last over, India chased down 15 in the super over to take a 4-0 lead in the five-match series.

KL Rahul started the super over in fine fashion by dispatching Tim Southee for a six and a four to all but seal the game. He was out on the third ball but Virat Kohli ensured that India cross the line without any further hiccup.

Earlier, for the fourth consecutive time in the series, Virat Kohli lost the toss and the visitors were asked to bat first. KL Rahul and Sanju Samson, who replaced Rohit Sharma in the playing eleven, failed to give the team a good start as the latter departed for just eight.

Also Read: Distraught Jimmy Neesham Posts Hilarious Tweet As New Zealand Face Another Super Over

Virat Kohli (11), Shreyas Iyer (1) and Shivam Dube (12) could not get going either as India kept losing wickets at regular intervals. After being reduced to 88 for 6, it looked like India would not even get close to the 150-run mark. However, Manish Pandey came up with a fine fighting knock of fifty not out to help India post a challenging total of 165 for 8.

India make it 4-0. Chasing the Super Over runs in 5 balls 1 down at @skystadium. Scorecard | https://t.co/JButyDvUOT #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/Lzc6TXMhj4

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 31, 2020

In reply, New Zealand finished on 165 for 7. The Black Caps were off to a shaky start with Martin Guptill departing cheaply. However, a 74-run stand between Colin Munro (64) and Tim Seifert (57) put them on top. Seifert and Ross Taylor then shared a 62-run stand to all but seal the game before the drama unfolded.

On the first ball of the final over when the hosts needed seven, Taylor was dismissed. Daryl Mitchell then hit a four to bring the equation down to 3 from final four balls before Seifert was run out. Mitchell was then out on the fifth ball while Mitchell Santner was out on the final ball when he tried to take a non-existent double.

Speaking at the end of the game, Virat Kohli stated that the last two games have taught him to stay in the game till the last moment. He also rued the fact that he and his teammates failed to read the pitch well.

“There’s something new that I’ve learnt, that you’ve just got to stay in the game, and if the opportunity comes then you capitalize on it. The fans couldn’t have asked for a better finish in two consecutive games. We hadn’t played super-over before, and now we have played two back to back,” he said.

“We didn’t read the pitch well, after after the first six he got carried away. Everyone looked in good headspace. We are very proud of how we went about our business today,” he added.