T20 World Cup 2022: India vs Pakistan – As it happened

So, where do both teams go from here?

India will now head to Sydney, where they play the Netherlands on Thursday.

Pakistan will fly to Perth to regroup and get their campaign back on track. They face Zimbabwe on Thursday. They can take solace in the potent bowling attack they have and should consider today’s result as an anomaly, as most days, their attack can take down any side when on song.

For those who braved the early start like I did, I am grateful for your company and look forward to you joining us next time.

India win the match in a last-ball finish 🏏

Good fight shown by the boys 👍#WeHaveWeWill | #T20WorldCup | #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/aVKsd8dM8Z

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 23, 2022

India looked down and out at 31 for 4 in the seventh over. The spinning tandem of Nawaz and Shadab did well to build on the previous efforts of the pacers as they looked to throttle the run chase.

Pakistan were very much in the driver’s seat and looked to have the match done and dusted when India were staring down the barrel at 54 needed off the final four overs.

Ultimately, it was the pressure of the occasion and the opposition they were facing which proved to be their downfall.

A fatal combination of deciding when to bowl certain bowlers, and bowling error itself, proved to be the difference as the match descended into the final stages.

Kohli’s calculation to take Rauf on in the penultimate over gave India a fighting chance with 16 needed off the final over, before Nawaz suffered a serious meltdown of no-balls and wides to gift India the victory.

Virat Kohli… 82* in 53 balls!
50* in 43 balls, 4 fours, 1 six
32* in 10 balls, 2 fours, 3 sixes#T20worldcup22 #T20WC2022 #INDvPAK #PAKvIND

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) October 23, 2022

Rohit was in raptures about the man of the moment.

“I have no voice left. We always wanted to make sure we stayed in the game as long as possible. We’ve talked constantly about it. No matter what the situation, you’ve got to believe you can pull through”, he said.

“That partnership [Hardik and Kohli] changed the game for us. We knew it would not be an easy target on that pitch, and that we had to bat out of our skins. Hats off to Virat. It has to go as not one of his best, but the best innings he has played for India.”

Rohit Sharma 🗣

“We were in no position to win this. It is Virat’s best knock playing for India.”

Kohli’s knock doesn’t need any validation but Rohit’s statement just sums up how good this effort was! #INDvPAK

— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) October 23, 2022

A rather despondent Babar had this to say about the crazy sequence of events which unfolded.

“We started well in our bowling, but then all credit to Hardik and Kohli. They shifted the momentum and finished the game well.

“We had a chance, and I just asked the boys to believe in themselves, but again credit to Kohli. We can take a lot of positives from the way Iftikhar and Masood played, and how we finished the innings.”

Cricket can be very cruel at times, so many ifs & buts, that ball hitting the stumps & going for 3, might have gone for none. Even that might not have mattered, India might have attempted other shots. The margin on the no-ball, it is extremely hard to reconcile with such things >

— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) October 23, 2022

A visibly emotional Kohli did his best to reflect on the stunning change of events.

“I honestly have no words. I have no idea how that happened. Hardik kept telling me to believe and to stay till the end,” he said.

“The calculation was simple. Nawaz had one over to bowl, so if I could take Haris down, they would panic. Till today I said Mohali was my best T20 innings. Then I got 82 off 52 and today I got 82 off 53. Both are just as special but I would count this one higher due to the magnitude of the game.”

It should be no surprise then that he is deemed the Player of the Match.

For his stunning match-winning knock, @imVkohli bags the Player of the Match award. 👏 👏

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/mc9usehEuY #TeamIndia | #T20WorldCup | #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/xF7LfA4Od5

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 23, 2022

Have you caught your breath? My fingers are on fire.

Did you ever think the match, when India was teetering at 31 for 4 in the seventh over, would finish in the manner that it did?

Kohli ends up with an unbeaten 82 off 53, which will surely go down as the greatest T20 innings he has played to date, especially when you consider the circumstances and occasion.

One can only doff their hat to superb, under-pressure innings that were timed to perfection.

It was a real masterclass in how to bat and believe even when the situation seems grim.

The KING is back 👑

Take a bow, Virat Kohli 🙌#T20WorldCup | #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/OdAnbmso0h

— ICC (@ICC) October 23, 2022

Well, phew.

Bloody hell. Best sport you’ll see today. What a last over.

— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) October 23, 2022

Special player 😍 @imVkohli #PakVsInd #ICCT20WorldCup2022

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) October 23, 2022

What a match. Totally gutted. I am too old for this. #PakVsInd

— Henna Khan-Hussain (@HennaK5) October 23, 2022

Ashwin is able to clear the infield, as he just needs to find the gap in order to get the quick single.

What an unbelievable game! India were done and dusted, and now you see Kohli sprinting to his teammates as he is clearly battling back a few tears as well.

It just doesn’t get bigger than a World Cup encounter with your rivals to pull off a result like this!

India 160-6 in 20 overs.

Nawaz delivers another wide!

This is just astonishing. In all my years, I don’t think I’ve seen a team in such a strong position completely fall apart at the seams in the end.

The MCG explodes and India now need 1 off 1 to seal a famous win!

Nawaz gets his man, although the ball slips down the leg side, which Karthik tries to sweep but ends up hitting his pad.

Rizwan is quickly on it and is able to stump Karthik before he has a chance to regain his ground.

New batsman in will be Ashwin.

India need 2 off 1 now.

Kohli bowled. But it was a free hit! It doesn’t count.

In the midst of the confusion, the ball escapes behind the keeper in the third-man region, and the batsmen are wise to it as they scamper three useful byes.

It is 2 off 2 now.

Wide!

Oh dear, oh dear. What are Pakistan doing?

They are letting this match completely go as Nawaz, with the pressure clearly getting to him, delivers a wide ball well outside off stump.

It is 5 off 2 now.

This is HUGE.

Kohli gets behind a high full toss from Nawaz, which flies high over deep square leg. And it’s a no-ball!

India get seven off that delivery, and Pakistan will have to re-bowl it.

6 off 3 needed.

Full, almost yorker length as Kohli is able to get this away down to long-on, with Karthik running like the wind to execute to great success.

13 off 3 now.

Karthik comes down the track but gets a chest-high full toss which he is able to swat away through the long-on region for a quick single to get Kohli back on strike.

15 off 4 now.

Wicket!

Hardik’s vigil comes to an unfortunate end as he tries to send Nawaz out of the ground off the first ball but ends up miscuing high to Babar, who takes it comfortably.

The new batsman is Karthik.

16 off 5 needed

Kohli is turning it on at the MCG as, after a few misfires to try and get Rauf away, he is able to slam a short-of-a-length ball straight back over Rauf’s head for six.

He then pulls off an incredible flicked six high over the deep fine leg fielder to end the over in style.

15 welcome runs come off the over as the Indian contingent in the crowd celebrate.

India now need 16 off 6 to pull off an unlikely victory.

As expected, Nawaz is given the final over by Babar. Huge moment here!

It’s just that kind of finale to that kind of a match…

I can't take this anymore 😭😭

— Nimra (@i_nimra) October 23, 2022

Shaheen is brought on and Kohli attacks first ball with a lofted pull over midwicket, which just falls short of the boundary rope.

Kohli is able to pick up another fortuitous boundary and brings up his fifty.

Sixteen off the over as Shaheen finishes his spell with 0-33.

Nawaz still has one over to bowl as Rauf is given the penultimate over. India will want as many as possible now before unleashing into Nawaz off the final over.

32 off 12 now.

Naseem is rewarded by bowling out his final over and does well in changing up his lengths and pace to keep the batsmen guessing.

He ends up with fantastic figures of 1-23.

Pakistan are going for the jugular as the boundaries continue to dry up.

48 needed off 18.