Not Virat Kohli's masterclass against Pakistan! Sanjay Bangar picks greatest knock by an Indian in T20 WC
Not Virat Kohli's masterclass vs Pak! Sanjay Bangar picks greatest T20 WC knock by an Indian.
Virat Kohli played a brilliant knock versus Pakistan to help India open their T20 World Cup (T20 WC) 2022 campaign with a thrilling win, in the Super 12 clash at the iconic MCG, Melbourne on October 23 (Sunday). Being asked to bat first, Babar Azam-led Pakistan rode on half-centuries from Shan Masood and Iftikhar Ahmed to post 159 for 8. In reply, India were tottering at 31 for 4 before a 113-run fifth-wicket stand between Kohli (82 not out) and Hardik Pandya (37-ball 40) took India to a stunning four-wicket win at the iconic stadium.
Many have claimed that Kohli's knock was the greatest inning by an Indian in the T20 WC. Earlier, Kohli had scored a magical 82 not out, off 51 balls, versus Australia in the virtual quarter-final of the 2016 T20 WC, in Mohali. Following his MCG heroics, many have labelled it as the greatest knock by a Team India player in the tournament history. However, former Indian opener Sanjay Bangar disagrees.
"The best I feel is Yuvraj Singh's, he will be at No. 1 because it was a semi-final match, so it was a different level. The second, as Virat Kohli himself said in his post-match interview that he will rate the Melbourne innings higher, the sort of attack it was and the position we were in, difficult conditions, I feel Melbourne should be there," Bangar said in a video posted on Aakash Chopra's YouTube Channel.
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Talking about Yuvraj's 30-ball 70-run knock versus the Aussies, it took place in the inaugural edition's second semi-final. Back then, MS Dhoni-led India faced Adam Gilchrist-led Aussies and posted a healthy 188 for 5 after opting to bat first, in Durban. India were 41 for 2 before Yuvi stitched an impressive 81-run stand with Robin Uthappa and went onto slam 70 off 30 deliveries, laced with 5 fours and equal number of sixes at a whopping strike rate of 233.33. Since Aussies were the favourites in the 2007 edition, Yuvi's inning was lauded by many. In reply, Australia managed 173 for 7 to lose by 15 runs.
Dhoni-led India went onto face Pakistan in the 2007 edition's final, beating them by five runs to win the trophy.