‘I sensed a lot of pressure in our room’- Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli’s candid chat after the iconic India-Pakistan clash
Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli had an excellent outing against Pakistan in the 20-20 World Cup 2022 clash on Sunday. They two got together when India was struggling at 31-4 in the seventh over of the game. Hardik and Virat stitched together a 113-run partnership that allowed India to chase down the 160-run target in the final over.
Hardik took the role of aggressor at first, but when things got tough, Kohli decided to go after the bowlers. Mohammad Nawaz dismissed Hardik for 40 in the final over of the match, breaking the partnership. However, Kohli ensured that India won by four wickets by scoring 16 runs off the final five balls of the match.
Following the victory, Hardik spoke with Kohli, and it was there that he revealed what it was like to bat with the former India captain. Hardik also praised Kohli for hitting consecutive sixes off Haris Rauf in the 19th over of the innings.
“Those two shots played by Virat Kohli, just because I know how important those two shots were, if you had missed even shot, still they were running ahead with the game. I have hit a lot of sixes, but those two sixes were really really special. What it meant for both of us, we actually were so pumped. Those two shots, I told him that I have played so much cricket but I do not think anyone could have played those two shots except Mr. Kohli,” Hardik told Kohli in a video posted on the website of the Indian Cricket Board.
It feels more special because we struggled: Virat Kohli
“Yeah, the best part of today was that we struggled, but we did it together. This would not have been this special if we would have just walked, just cruised through hitting exceptional shots. It feels more special because we struggled. We were talking to each other on how difficult it was. Credit to Pakistan as well, they bowled really well. They were fantastic,” Virat responded.
Pandya went on to say about his emotions during the match against Pakistan. “I sensed a lot of pressure in our room, I could sense it. It was a big game, but for me, I do not know, for some odd reason, I was very numb today when I came to the ground. This is where I wanted to be and I am just happy to be here. The quality of relationship which I have in this group is something I cherish,” he said.
“I would have taken a bullet for you at that point of time, but I would not have let you get out. My goal was simple, whatever I can do to make your life easier, I’ll do it. You have done it so many times and no one is better at handling pressure than you,” the all-rounder added.
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