Melbourne: Pakistan skipper Babar Azam credited the partnership between Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli for Indias four-wicket victory over Pakistan in a sizzling T20 World Cup on Sunday.
A tight game. We started well in our bowling, and then all credit to Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli. They shifted the momentum and finished the game well, Azam said in a post-match ceremony.
Its not easy with the new ball, with a little bit of swing and seam. We had a chance, and we just asked the boys to believe in themselves, but again credit to Virat Kohli. We needed a wicket, thats why we utilised our main bowlers [and kept Nawaz for the end]. A lot of positives. The way Iftikhar played, the way Shan played and finished the innings was good for us, he said.
Indias run machine Virat Kohli played a scintillating knock of unbeaten 82 runs to help India beat Pakistan by four wickets in a high-voltage T20 World Cup Super 12 stage match here on Sunday.
After restricting Pakistan to 159 runs for the loss of eight wickets, led by Kohli, India reached the winning target of 160 runs by losing six wickets.
Kohli, who was adjudged the Player of the Match, hammered six boundaries and four sixes in his dashing knock which changed the course of the game.
Kohli smashed Haris Rauf for two consecutive sixes in the 19th over which left India closer to the target.
Despite losing Hardik Pandya (40) and Dinesh Karthik (1), Kohli and Ashwin reached the target at the end.
Mohammad Nawaz gave away extras in the final over to make things tough for Pakistan.
Ashwin hit a single in the last ball of the innings to register victory.
India were struggling at 4-31 at one point in the match.
Kohli and Pandya contributed 113 runs in the fifth wicket partnership which changed the course of the action.
Kohli remained the champion of the night as he anchored the innings with his heroic knock and perfectly wished the countrymen on Diwali by giving them a victory.
In the last edition of the T20 World Cup in UAE last year, Pakistan had defeated India by 10 wickets and then even defeated the side in the Asia Cup to knock out the neighbours from the tournament.
Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz picked up two wickets for Pakistan.
Rauf had removed two quick Indian wickets early to leave India in trouble.
India started their World Cup campaign with a victory.
