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Cricket World Player of the Week - Virat Kohli

©CWM

Virat Kohli joined hands with Hardik Pandya, in what initially looked like a lost cause in India's opening match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022, to take the team to a famous win against Pakistan.

At 31-4 after 6.1 overs in pursuit of 160 on a fast and bouncy Melbourne pitch, India looked down and out, but Virat Kohli dusted out the champion chase master from the cellar to enthral the 90,000 plus at the G and millions watching on telly.

With Kohli at the helm, India blasted 48 runs in last three overs to register the joint-most runs achieved in a T20 WC match in the final three over block.

In what he categorically called the best knock of his T20I career, even ahead of the scintillating performance against Australia at Mohali in a virtual T20 WC quarter final, Kohli showed why he's rated so highly by those who understand the game.

This was only the fourth instance of India winning on the last ball of a T20 International, and what better stage to do it against arch-rivals Pakistan and amid an atmosphere every bit worthy of the marquee clash.

Pakistan have every right to feel hard done after the exceptional cricket they played which culminated in a super dramatic last over, but the way Kohli and Hardik added 113 runs when the stakes were sky high, stitching together the highest partnership for any wicket for India vs Pakistan in T20Is, the win was well deserved.