Kohli's stunning performance at the MCG propels India to remarkable victory

Virat Kohli's 82* off 53 balls helped India to beat Pakistan by four wickets in the last-over thriller. India was struggling at one point but the partnership between Kohli and Pandya turned things around.

Last three overs of India's chase:-

India required 48 from 18 balls, and Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf each had an over remaining. Afridi delivered the 18th over and was smashed for 17 runs, and then came Rauf, who used all of his experience and India only managed to score three runs off his first four balls. Kohli was on strike for the final two deliveries, and he smashed him for a six with almost a straight bat, and the last ball was also gone for a six over a fine leg.

With 16 needed in the last over, Mohammad Nawaz managed to dismiss Pandya as he attempted to slog the ball over the leg side. Kohli and Karthik only managed to take three runs from the next two deliveries, bringing the equation down to 13 off the last three balls. Nawaz bowled a waist-high full toss which Kohli smacked for six and the umpire signalled a no-ball. Nawaz bowled the next ball wide, and Kohli and Karthik scored three runs on the next delivery, which was still a free hit. Nawaz dismissed Dinesh Karthik, and when Ashwin came to face the final ball, Nawaz bowled a wide. With just one needed off the last ball, Ashwin hit the ball over mid-off and India won the thrilling match.

Pakistan stunned India with Early wickets:-

Early on, Pakistan pacers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf rattled India with the ball. Naseem Shah dismissed Rahul in the second over, and Rauf got the wicket of Rohit Sharma, who nicked the ball to slips, and Iftikhar took a blinder. Rauf struck again, this time getting Suryakumar Yadav out in the powerplay, and Axar Patel also got run out.

Kohli, Pandya partnership:-

After 10 overs, India was 45/4 and required 116 runs in the final ten overs. Kohli and Pandya started building a partnership.  Kohli and Pandya smacked Nawaz for three sixes in the 12th over. In the following three overs, Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Naseem Shah each got hit for a boundary. When 60 runs were required off 30 balls, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah each conceded six runs each, reducing the equation to 48 runs off 18 balls.

Pakistan Innings:-

Arshdeep, Bhuvneshwar put early pressure:-

Bhuvneshwar Kumar got some help from the pitch and conceded just one run in the first over. Arshdeep Singh removed Babar Azam on the first ball of his over. Arshdeep struck again, this time taking Rizwan's wicket. With their prolific openers back in the pavilion, Pakistan only managed to score 32 runs in the powerplay.

Iftikhar and Masood partnership:-

Iftikhar and Masood began the rebuilding process for Pakistan after the early wickets. Pakistan was 60/2 after 10 overs. Both batters then attacked Indian spinners. In the eleventh over, Iftikhar first hit Ashwin for a six before smacking Axar Patel for three sixes. After reaching his half-century, Iftikhar was dismissed by Shami.

Hardik shines with the ball but Pakistan manages to finish strongly:-

Hardik Pandya struck twice in the 14th over, he got the wicket of Shadab and Haider Ali, and in his last over he dismissed Nawaz. Arshdeep took his third wicket by dismissing Asif Ali. In the 18th over, Shan Masood hammered Shami for two fours, while in the 19th over, Shaheen smashed Arshdeep for a six and a four. They scored 10 runs in the last over and finished with a total of 159/8 in 20 overs.