‘I have never seen a better innings than that’ – Shaheen Afridi terms Virat Kohli’s MCG innings ‘best’ he has ever seen

Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

Virat Kohli has retired from the T20Is and the legend did so by winning the T20 World Cup 2024 in June 2024. At the fag end of his T20I career, the star batter was criticised for a low strike rate in the format by critics. But the star batter’s shortest-format career will always be remembered for his innings against Pakistan at the MCG in 2022 during the T20 World Cup game.

Kohli entered the fray when India had a minimal chance of winning the game and were four down with 31 runs on the board at the end of the powerplay. Kohli orchestrated a magical innings of an unbeaten 82 off 53 and his down-the-ground six against Haris Rauf is still talked about. Shaheen Afridi, who was part of Pakistan’s team, has dubbed Virat’s inning as his best innings ever.

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“Virat Kohli is a Great player. And Great player like Kohli could play such innings. That ball was Haris Rauf’s best ball and he hit Six on straight down the ground was unbelievable. Virat Kohli’s 82* runs innings, I have never seen a better innings than that Kohli’s innings in my career,” Shaheen Afridi said on Star Sports.

One day you feel you can’t get a run, then things happen: Kohli

The 35-year-old ended his T20I career with a match-winning innings in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 against South Africa in Barbados. India suffered a top-order collapse losing three wickets in quick succession. Kohli, who opened the innings stayed toll the 19th over and scored a resilient 76 runs off 59 deliveries. It is worth noting that, before the final, the right-handed batter had scored just 73 runs in 7 innings.

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“This was my last t20 World Cup, and this is what we wanted to achieve. One day you feel you can’t get a run, then things happen. God is great, and I got the job done for the team on the day it mattered,” said Kohli after the game.