Virat Kohli may not immediately spring to mind when you consider the best T20 cricketers currently competing at the highest level of the sport. He is such a fantastic batsman in both Tests and ODIs, as is evident from a simple glance at his career. Kohli has been a ruthless master of his art over the past ten years, regardless of the playing environment, in an era of greater specialisation.
In 101 intra-company T20 games, Virat Kohli has amassed runs of 3712. In T20 international games, he has a 122-point highest score (not out). In T20 games, he performs with an average of 50.84 and a strike rate of 138.09. In his T20 international career thus far, he has scored 33 half-centuries and one century based on latest new update cricket. In T20Is versus Pakistan, Kohli has a solid track record. Here are some of Virat’s top performances against Pakistan.
2022 T20 World Cup: 82*
Virat Kohli’s performance against Pakistan was his finest, but it was also one of his all-time best performances. In their 2022 T20 World Cup opening against bitter rivals Pakistan, India was in serious trouble until Kohli maintained the fort and then erupted in the last overs. Given his difficulties over the past two years or so, Virat found this performance to be very rewarding.
With 28 required and eight balls remaining, his stroke off Haris Rauf will go down in history.
One of Virat Kohli’s best-ever chases has been accomplished. The game’s all-time top white-ball batsman, Virat Kohli, has had a difficult few years with performances that have fallen short of the very high standards he has established since the 2010 decade began. Virat, though, gave a timely reminder that you should never write off a champion in one of the finest matches you will undoubtedly witness.
The India-Pakistan match lived up to the expectations, with the largest non-Australian attendance in Australian history (90,293). The game ebbed and flowed several times from India’s early dominance to Pakistan’s spirited comeback, with the men in blue ultimately attaining the 160-run goal after slumping to 31/4.
It’s one of those games that you can’t wait to see again.
In this classic, there were many excellent performers, but Kohli stood out the most. Virat created enough force off a back-of-a-length delivery to smash the ball back over Haris Rauf’s head in the highlight of the game, which was a fantastic shot straight down the ground of the outstanding Haris Rauf. At that time, India required 28 points from eight balls, and a further six by Virat left 16 points needed to win in the last over.
Pakistan and Mohammad Nawaz were left wondering what may have been. Babar and company were incensed by a questionable no-ball decision and three byes off the stumps on the free shot. As R Ashwin lofted the last delivery over mid-off to secure a thrilling victory, frustration transformed into agony.
Pakistan would yet believe they ought to have won this significant Group 2 match. With Shaheen and Haris both holding one over, India needed 54 off of 24 balls and then 48 of the final three. In the end, India returned home on a night when the predicted rain failed to materialise, setting off joyous celebrations at the MCG.
78* in 2012 T20 World Cup
A brilliant effort by young Kohli helped India to chase down 129 runs in their T20 World Cup match against Pakistan, which was Kohli’s maiden meeting with Pakistan. Kohli scored 78 runs in 61 deliveries, even though the total was somewhat low.
Because the other batsmen’s contributions were mostly insignificant, Kohli’s efforts were the focal point of the whole chase. Gautam Gambhir leaving the inaugural over itself for a duck gave everyone a shock right away. From that point on, India was completely led by Kohli, and in the 17th over, they were able to win the victory.
55* in 2016 T20 World Cup
Due mostly to the skill of their new-ball bowlers, the Pakistani bowlers can win games even when the totals are somewhat below average. In the 2016 T20 World Cup, Mohammed Amir’s first spell destroyed the Indian top order. India found itself in trouble at an unexpected time when the conditions seemed to favour the seam bowlers.
But Kohli held one end to perfection, much as in his natural play. Since India’s aim was only 118 runs, the batsman didn’t have to step up his game as the game went on. The 34-year-old gave Sachin Tendulkar, who warmly praised the Indian batter from the stands, his characteristic salute to mark the conclusion of the game.
2016 Asia Cup: 49 Runs
Pakistan continued the pattern of making the most of their bowling capabilities, and the local rivals made sure MS Dhoni’s team had a challenging battle even when they were chasing 84 runs in the 2016 Asia Cup. While Suresh Raina could only contribute one run to the team’s total, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma were sent back for a duck. Amir and Mohammed Sami’s storm was well withstood by Kohli as he bided his time and made a cautious 49 on a very difficult surface. In a critical 68-run partnership with Yuvraj Singh, he contributed mostly to India’s victory in this match.
In the 2022 Asia Cup, 60 runs
Kohli has never experienced a slump as severe as the one he was experiencing before the current Asia Cup. There were cries to remove him from the T20I team, but after three successive innings of outstanding worth and significance, he has reaffirmed his position in the setup.
Even while his 60-run innings on Sunday wasn’t the most fluid of his career, they undoubtedly contributed to India’s successful recovery from a setback in the middle overs. He provided the perfect foundation for the innings and reached his half-century with a magnificent six over midwicket, raising expectations that he would gradually return to his natural rhythm. Despite losing the match, India would be quite encouraged by Kohli’s performance against their bitter enemies.
