Every cricket fan in the world still has India’s encounter against Pakistan at the T20I World Cup 2022, etched in their minds. The epic run chase and Kohli’s sensational shot to Haris Rauf made for a match for the ages. Just weeks before India’s game against Pakistan, many experts questioned the position of Virat Kohli in the squad. Some even opined that the ace India batter should not be part of the line-up at the World Cup as well.
However, just as the Men in Blue were struggling against the arch-rivals Pakistan during the run chase, it was Kohli who silenced the critics by playing an unbeaten knock of 82 runs in just 53 deliveries and propelled India to a resounding victory.
Recently, the 34-year-old, came forward to talk about that encounter, and Kohli opined that he does not remember any advice that he got from head coach Rahul Dravid as he was zoned out from being under too much pressure.
“I still can’t make any sense of it. That’s a very honest admission. And a lot of people have tried to ask me what were you thinking, how did you plan and I have no answers. The fact of the matter is that I was so much under pressure that my mind had shut off completely by the 12th or 13th over,” Virat Kohli said at a PUMA event.
“I remember in the break, Rahul bhai came to me, and I don’t remember what he said. I swear, and I even told him this as well. I told him, ‘I have no idea what you told me in that break because I was zoned out,'” he added.
I can never explain it and it won’t happen ever again: Kohli
Virat Kohli also reflected on the fact that his instinct was an integral factor in India being able to clinch the win against Pakistan. The chase master even opined that he had no explanation for how it happened and said that most probably it won’t ever happen again.
“That is when my instinct took over. So when I stopped thinking and planning, whatever God-given talent I have that came to the surface, and then I felt like something higher was guiding me,” Kohli said.
“I can’t claim any of that. I was trying to do it before as well, but it wasn’t working. The lesson for me was stop using your mind so much because it actually pushes you away from real magic. What happened that night, I can never explain it, and it won’t happen ever again,” he added.