Rohit Sharma’s coach Dinesh Lad rated Virat Kohli’s match-winning knock against Pakistan as the best T20 innings he has ever seen. Kohli batted at his absolute best as he scored a magnum opus knock of 82 runs off just 53 against the arch-rivals at the MCG on Sunday.
India was chasing a stiff target of 160 runs against a potent Pakistan bowling line-up but they had their backs against the wall in the run-chase. The Men in Blue found themselves tottering at 31-4 when Hardik Pandya joined forces with Virat Kohli.
The duo kept India in the game as they added a fine alliance of 113 runs in 13 overs. However, India still needed 16 runs off the final five balls when Pandya was dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz in the last over. Kohli went on to add the finishing touches and got India over the line in a historic win.
“Virat Kohli played the best T20 innings I have ever seen. The best part was that he was always in control. He never played a false or wrong shot,” Lad told PTI.
Lad added Kohli played proper cricketing shots to get his runs and didn’t try to experiment. The pressure was huge but Kohli was able to keep his nerves.
“In T20 cricket, there is a lot of improvisation, reverse sweeps, scoops, etc. but Virat did not play any such shot. He played proper cricketing shots. This had to be his best innings given the magnitude and the pressure situation India was in,” he said.
On the other hand, Rohit Sharma was dismissed after scoring four runs against Pakistan. However, Lad backed his ward to bounce back in the T20 World Cup in the upcoming matches.
“I feel that Rohit will start playing like a match-winner again. We are about to see the best of Rohit once again, like the 2019 World Cup in England.”
“He has won five IPL titles. He is an involved captain. He has self-belief. He knows how to take the best out of which player and how to utilize the best out of them,” Lad asserted.
Lad went on to add that India’s chances of going all the way in the T20 World Cup 2022 have increased after winning the big match against Pakistan.
“Our chances of lifting the World Cup have increased as the momentum is with us. Momentum is there in India’s favour after their thrilling victory over Pakistan on Sunday,” he concluded.
India will take on the Netherlands on Thursday at the SCG.
