T20 World Cup 2022: Kohli surpasses Tendulkar in run-riot against Pakistan

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• Oct 24, 2022 | Dhupali Das

Meanwhile, Kohli surpassed Rohit Sharma to take the top spot among run scorers in T20 cricket...

Digital Desk: Virat Kohli scored 82 not out off 53 balls as India beat Pakistan by four wickets in a last-ball drama at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. While Kohli's knock helped India begin their T20 World Cup campaign on a high note, he also broke Sachin Tendulkar's major World Cup record. Prior to the game against Pakistan, both Kohli and Tendulkar had 23 fifty-plus scores in ICC white-ball events, but Kohli's knock on Sunday enabled him to overcome Tendulkar and become the number one hitter with the most 50-plus scores in ICC limited-overs games. 

Meanwhile, Kohli surpassed Rohit Sharma to take the top spot among run scorers in T20 cricket. Kohli has now scored 3794 runs in 110 matches, while Rohit has scored 3741 runs in 143 matches.

Kohli's stunning half-century and century stand for the fifth wicket with Hardik Pandya helped India defeat Pakistan in the Group 2, Super-12 match of the ongoing mega event in Australia.

Chasing 160 runs against Pakistan, India was on the verge of losing the game after being reduced to 31 for 4 in 6.1 overs, but Kohli's remarkable knock kept them in the hunt till the final ball, and the team eventually won the match.

"I have no words, no idea how that happened. I am really lost for words. Hardik believed we can do it if we stayed till the end," said Kohli after the game.

While cricket critics praised Kohli's innings against Pakistan as his finest to date, he ranked it higher than his legendary Mohali knock against Australia in the 2016 T20 World Cup.

"Till today Mohali was my best innings against Australia. Today I will count this one higher. Hardik (Pandya) kept pushing me. The crowd has been phenomenal. You guys (fans) kept backing me and I am grateful for your support," added the batting maestro.