Virat Kohli Ki Jai

India vs Australia, World T20: Virat Kohli Ki Jai

Virat Kohli after the World T20 match against Australia, in Mohali Sunday. India won by six wickets.

As Mahendra Singh Dhoni blasted James Faulkner’s low full toss past the long-on boundary, virat kohili dropped down on his knees. The Indian vice-captain had virtually run his legs off in his unbeaten 51-ball 82 in the chase against Australia in the virtual quarter-final at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on Sunday evening. Now that the team were over the line, it was as if he felt the full weight of his feat. After single-handedly dragging India into the semifinal, Kohli finally had to be dragged back onto his feet.
But for him, India had no business being there. On a slow pitch that had inconsistent bounce, they were chasing 161 runs — 15 more than their next best score in this tournament. And they were 49 for three in the eighth over after their top order had misfired again. But at No. 3, it’s not as much Kohli as a human safety net that walked out for India.
He thrives on big occasions. Against Pakistan earlier in the tournament, India were 23 for three. He hammered a masterly unbeaten 55 to take the team to victory. If at all, the situation was even more dire on Sunday. Yuvraj Singh, who came after the fall of Suresh Raina, appeared to have twisted his ankle in the ninth over. As he hobbled between the wickets, and the run rate crept up, it must have been frustrating for Kohli. But this is what Kohli brings to the table. Not just skill but sheer focus.
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“This format requires you to be at the top of your focus and concentration for 120 balls with the bat and on the field as well. That’s the only thing we can look to do. Stay in the moment and not get carried away with the bigger picture,” he said.
With his partner practically on one leg, Kohli still stitched a more-than run-a-ball 45-run partnership. But then the retiring Shane Watson put an end to Yuvraj’s painful knock, ending perhaps India’s predicament as well. They needed 67 runs off the last six overs.
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