Virat Kohli Guides India to Victory against Pakistan

It was yet another spirited performance from Virat Kohli which made it possible for India to beat their arch rivals Pakistan in the current Asia Cup being played in Bangladesh. It was on the same ground in Mirpur when India could not defend the competitive score of 289 runs. But 48 hours on, the story is different now.

Set a daunting target of 330 runs to win in a do or die match, India had everything to play for. The target of 330 is far too high for any team and against any opposition and it certainly looked so against Pakistan, who has a quality bowling attack. The wicket of Gautam Gambhir off the second ball of the Indian innings made the target look more monumental. What India needed was a partnership going and at the same time keep the required run rate within sight.

The pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli put up 133 runs for the second wicket. With a healthy run rate the duo kept scoring fast. Tendulkar was scoring at more than run a ball. However, it was not long before Kohli came from behind and reached his half-century before Tendulkar.

When it looked like Tendulkar would add another century to his name, he fell at an individual score of 52. In walked Rohit Sharma with a point or two to prove. Both of them again got to business and it never looked as if India had lost any wicket or the two did not allow the run rate to go up too high.

At one point of time, there was a difference of 23 between the balls and runs – more runs to score in lesser balls. But Kohli kept up the momentum going and reached his century and then 150 at a faster rate. Just as when it looked he would finish the match, he got out on 183 – the highest score in the history of Asia Cup.

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