Asia Cup 2022

Following India's loss to Pakistan in the thrilling Asia Cup Super Four game on September 4, Kohli in the post-match press conference caught everyone by surprise by saying, "When I left Test captaincy, I received a text from only one person that I have played with earlier, and that is MS Dhoni.

Rizwan had suffered the injury in the 15th over of the India innings when he fell down awkwardly trying to collect a bouncer from Mohammad Hasnain from well over his head. Rizwan was in pain right away and the Pakistan physio rushed to the ground to tend to him. Despite the pain and discomfort, Rizwan went on to bat and made a crucial contribution for Pakistan, acting as the chief architect in the run chase with a 51-ball 71.

Coming back to competitive cricketing action after a break of a month and a half, Kohli has scored two fifties in a row, including 60 off 44 balls against Pakistan in Super Four match on Sunday. Along with a scratchy 35 against Pakistan earlier in Group A on the occasion of his 100th T20I, Kohli is currently the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament with 154 runs in three innings, averaging 77 and at a strike rate of 126.22.

In the Super Four match against Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium, Virat Kohli top-scored with 60 off 44 balls, hitting four fours and a six, while running hard between the wickets and was superb against pacers in India's total of 181/7. Kohli is currently the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament with 154 runs in three innings, averaging 77 and at a strike rate of 126.22.

But this time, the result was in Pakistan's favour, defeating India by five wickets with a ball to spare in a thrilling Super Four match at the Dubai International Stadium. If it was India, who had aced a chase of 148 in Group A match, it was Pakistan's turn to chase down 182 in the Super Four match.

In the 18th over of the match on Sunday, needing 34 runs, Asif Ali tried to sweep Ravi Bishnoi and it seemed like he would be returning to the pavilion. However, Singh dropped the straightforward chance and Ali survived to bring back the game in Pakistan's favour. He then received a lot of criticism from netizens. Kohli later defended the young pacer, saying anyone could have made such a mistake during a high-pressure game.

In the third ball of the 18th over, when Pakistan needed 32 runs off 15 balls, Ali had slog-swept off leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi. But he got a thick top-edge, which flew towards short third man. Arshdeep, stationed there, put down the sitter as the ball went through his hands. If Arshdeep had taken the catch, Ali would have been out for a duck.

With his four overs, Nawaz conceded just 25 runs and took out Suryakumar Yadav in a tight spell which applied brakes on India's innings after Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul came out all guns blazing in a 54-run opening stand. Then in chasing 182, Nawaz was given a promotion to number four. He rose to the occasion by striking 42 off 20 balls, including six fours and two sixes, giving a much-needed impetus to Pakistan's successful chase with a ball to spare.

Pushed into batting first, Rohit and K.L Rahul came out all guns blazing in a 54-run opening stand as India reverted back to their aggressive attacking approach. Virat Kohli top-scored for India with 60 off 44 balls, hitting four fours and a six while running hard between the wickets and was superb against pacers.

After Virat Kohli slammed his second consecutive fifty in as many matches for India to post a competitive 181/7, Rizwan also got his half-century in as many games with a 51-ball 71. But the game turner was left-handed Nawaz's promotion to four, striking 42 off 20 balls, including six fours and two sixes.