Mohammad Nawaz opens up on Virat Kohli’s 2022 Melbourne miracle

The clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 will always be printed in the history of cricket. The game was being played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), amid nail-biting tension, Virat Kohli orchestrated a magnificent chase, putting his name in the hearts of millions yet again.

Pakistan, batting first set a formidable target of 160 runs. However, the early loss of wickets left India reeling at 31/4 in the seventh over, giving hope to the Pakistani bowlers. Yet, amid all this distress, Kohli took his team out of discomfort with his unbeaten 82 off 53 balls and guided India through.

The climax arrived in the final over, where Mohammad Nawaz was asked to defend 16 runs. Despite a valiant effort in the initial deliveries, Kohli shattered Pakistani dreams as India triumphed in a breathtaking finish. For Nawaz, the pain of defeat was visible, reminiscent of past heartbreaks in similar circumstances.

‘You are trying to hurt me again’ – Mohammad Nawaz breaks his silence

In a conversation with Cricbuzz, Nawaz admitted the lingering sting of that defeat. He said, “You are trying to hurt me again (laughs). When the match is so big and the whole world is seeing you… and the fight in that game was a good one and there was excitement and now it seems that it turned out to be my strength because when you go through such an experience, you can adapt better when you come up against a similar scenario.”

“Look, he (Kohli) is the best player in the world. And why he is the best player around he showed in that game considering in those conditions when you lose four wickets inside 40 runs and the way our three fast bowlers were bowling only he could win a game from that point,” Nawaz added. 

He found comfort in the invaluable lessons learnt from the MCG game. The experience now helps him think better and react quickly in tricky situations with newfound composure. He also acknowledged Kohli’s innings and believes he was a great architect in taking India home.

Also read: Stuart Broad shows confidence in Kohli-less India