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The early loss of both openers had turned the MCG into a cauldron of anxiety for the Indian fans. The blue flags, waving frantically just minutes ago, were now held still. 14 for 2 after 4 overs. The required run rate had crept up to nearly 9 runs per over.
In the middle, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav (SKY) were in survival mode. The swing was still there, the Pakistan pacers were tail-up, and every dot ball felt like a physical blow.
Over 5: Naseem Shah continued his spell, bowling with venomous pace. Kohli defended. SKY tapped to point. Single. Dot. Single. It was a grind. The flamboyance of SKY was caged by the accuracy of the bowling and the gravity of the situation. Score: 22/2 (5 Overs).
Required: 133.
Over 6: Haris Rauf
Haris Rauf steamed in for the final over of the Powerplay. He knew SKY was the counter-attacker. He knew SKY was batting out of position at Number 4, a spot usually reserved for the Vice-Captain.
Ball 1: Rauf bowled back of a length, cramping SKY. SKY tried to cut. Mistimed to cover. Dot.
The pressure in the commentary box was palpable.
Nasser Hussain: "This is the problem with the experiment. SKY likes to express himself, but at 14 for 2, he has to rebuild. He looks caught in two minds. Does he attack? Does he defend? The dot balls are piling up."
Ball 2: Rauf ran in. 144 kmph. He bowled a fraction short of a good length, just outside off. SKY's eyes lit up. He saw the width. He decided he couldn't wait anymore. He swiveled on the front foot a unique SKY trait. He pulled it disdainfully. The ball flew over mid-wicket. It wasn't a slog; it was a whip. It raced to the boundary. FOUR.
Ravi Shastri: "Disdainfully pulled! He needed that! The Indian dugout needed that! SKY breaks the shackles. He just swiveled and dismissed it from his presence. 89mph, but he picked the length early."
SKY punched gloves with Kohli. He looked relieved. A small nod. I can do this.
Ball 3: Rauf was hurt. He walked back to his mark, muttering to himself. He glared at SKY. He ran in harder. 145 kmph. Back of a length again, but the line was tighter closer to the body, cramping the batter for room. SKY, emboldened by the previous boundary, tried to play a release shot. He tried to steer it down to third man with an open face—the 'glance' that looks so elegant when it comes off. But there was no room. The ball nipped back in off the seam just a fraction. It was too close to cut. The ball kissed the glove, It feathered through. Mohammad Rizwan threw his hands up before the ball even landed in them. He caught it and screamed. Rauf dropped to his knees, punching the air in delight before Shadab Khan embraced him.
Wasim Akram: "GOT HIM! Rauf strikes back! Pakistan have three early! Look at that celebration! It cramped him for room. SKY was looking for the third man, but he found the keeper's gloves! The experiment fails! India are 26 for 3 in the Powerplay!"
Nasser Hussain: "That is a massive wicket. Suryakumar Yadav is the X-factor. He walks back for 15. The Indian top order has been blown away by pure pace and aggression. And now, you have to ask... was it right to hold back Aarav Pathak?"
Suryakumar Yadav c Rizwan b Rauf 15 (10)Score: India 26/3
The walk back to the pavilion is the longest walk in sports, especially at the MCG. Suryakumar Yadav looked devastated. He dragged his bat, his head bowed low. He felt the weight of the gamble. He had asked for the spot, and he hadn't delivered.
As he crossed the boundary rope, a figure was jogging out. Aarav Pathak. The Vice-Captain. The man whose spot SKY had taken.
Aarav stopped. He saw the distress on SKY's face. He didn't run past him. SKY stopped too. He looked up at Aarav, his eyes shimmering with regret. "Sorry, Aarav," SKY whispered, his voice cracking. "I messed up. I shouldn't have asked."
The cameras zoomed in. The world watched. Aarav didn't frown. He didn't look angry. He reached out and patted SKY's helmet gently. "No problem, Surya bhai," Aarav said, his voice calm amidst the chaos. "You played your shots. It happens. Go sit down, drink some water. Play at Number 5 next time. Don't worry about this."
He gripped SKY's shoulder firmly. "I'll handle it from here."
SKY nodded, swallowing hard. "Good luck."
Ravi Shastri: "Look at that moment. The Vice-Captain consoling the man who took his spot. That is leadership. But I still don't understand why India broke something which was not required! Aarav is the Number 1 batter in the world. He should have been out there at 10 for 2. Now he walks out at 26 for 3. The pressure is tripled."
Aarav jogged to the crease. The crowd roar was different this time. It wasn't just excitement; it was desperation. "AA-RAV! AA-RAV!" They knew. If he failed, the World Cup opener was gone.
He reached the pitch. Virat Kohli was waiting. The King looked anxious. He was tapping his bat. "Why?" Kohli asked immediately. "Why did Surya come before you? We needed stability."
Aarav marked his guard Leg stump. "He asked for it, Bhaiya," Aarav replied calmly, checking his field. "He felt good. Rohit agreed."
Kohli shook his head, frustration visible. He walked back to the non-striker's end. But before he reached the crease, he turned around and shouted. "PLAY SAFE! BUILD THE INNINGS! NO RISKY SHOTS!"
The stump mic caught it clearly. Kohli's voice echoed through millions of televisions.
Aarav looked at Kohli. He saw the worry in his mentor's eyes. Aarav didn't nod. He didn't say yes. He just lifted his thumb. Thumbs Up.
Ravi Shastri: "Did you hear that? Kohli is screaming instructions! 'Play safe'. He knows the gravity of the situation. 26 for 3. One more wicket and it's curtains. Aarav Pathak is under the microscope here."
Wasim Akram: "Haris Rauf has his tail up. He is bowling 150+. Aarav loves pace, but this is a different kind of pressure. Let's see what the young man is made of."
Ball 4: Haris Rauf to Aarav Pathak Haris Rauf walked back to his mark. He was pumped. He saw the new batsman. He knew Aarav. He knew he liked to attack. Rauf decided to bowl the "unhittable" ball. The wide line yorker. Fast. Away from the hitting arc.
He ran in. 148 kmph. He nailed the execution. It was full, wide outside off stump, tailing away further. A ball you are supposed to leave or squeeze for a single.
Aarav Pathak saw the line early. Most batsmen would reach for it. Aarav didn't reach. He shuffled. He moved his back leg way across to the off-stump. He planted his front leg almost on the wide line. He got down on one knee. He wasn't driving. He wasn't slicing. He twisted his wrists. He played a Sweep Shot. To a 148 kmph wide yorker. He fetched the ball from the 7th stump line and whipped it. The contact was pure. The sound was like a gunshot. The ball flew not to cover, not to point. It flew over Deep Fine Leg.
It sailed 85 meters into the crowd behind the keeper. SIX!
The stadium went dead silent for a microsecond, processing the physics of the shot, before exploding into a noise that registered on the Richter scale.
Haris Rauf stopped in his follow-through. His jaw dropped. He looked at the umpire. He looked at where the ball landed. He looked at Aarav. How?
Virat Kohli at the non-striker's end froze. His mouth fell open. He shouted something "ARE YOU MAD?" or "WHAT WAS THAT?" or "BENSTOKES" but the noise drowned him out. Aarav stood up from his knee. He adjusted his gloves. He looked at the pitch. He acted like he had just played a defensive push.
Ravi Shastri (Losing his voice): "UNBELIEVABLE! THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE! A wide yorker fetched from outside off and swept for six over fine leg?! Who does that? Only one man! Aarav Pathak announces his arrival with a shot that defies logic! Look at Kohli's face! Look at Rauf! They are stunned!"
Nasser Hussain: "That is the most ridiculous shot I have ever seen in a pressure situation. 26 for 3, first ball he faces, and he does that? The audacity! The skill! The arrogance! That is the Vice-Captain telling Pakistan, 'I am not here to survive!'"
Kohli walked down the pitch. He looked shaken. "I said play safe!" Kohli yelled over the crowd noise, grabbing Aarav's shoulder. "That was risky!"
Aarav looked at Kohli. He smiled a calm, reassuring smile. "It is safe, Bhaiya," Aarav said, his voice steady. "I knew he would go wide. I was ready."
"But..." Kohli stammered.
"Don't worry," Aarav winked. "Pakistan bowlers need to stay safe now. The Prince is here to take the load from the King."
Kohli stared at him for a second, then shook his head, a small, incredulous smile appearing. He punched Aarav's glove. "You're crazy. Stay there."
Ravi Shastri (On Mic): "You can see the conversation. Kohli said to stay safe, Aarav probably said, 'It's turn for Pakistan to stay safe!' That shot has transferred the pressure back to the bowler instantly!"
Ball 5: Rauf was rattled. He tried to bowl straight. Length ball. Aarav defended it solidly back to the bowler. Dot.
Ball 6: Rauf tried to compensate. He went full again, attacking the stumps. 146 kmph. Aarav didn't move across this time. He stayed still. He presented the full face of the bat. The Straight Drive. Elbow high. Head still. Pose held. The ball raced past Rauf, past mid-off, and crashed into the sight screen boundary. FOUR.
Score: India 36/3 (6 Overs). Aarav Pathak: 10* (3 balls) - 6, 0, 4.
Wasim Akram: "10 runs off the last three balls. Aarav Pathak has single-handedly saved the Powerplay for India. Pakistan thought they had the game by the throat, but this young man has just loosened the grip. That six... I will be thinking about that shot for a long time."
Ravi Shastri: "India 36 for 3. Not the best start, but with these two at the crease the King and the Prince—the game is very much alive. Aarav Pathak has sent a message: The chase is on."
Aarav walked to the non-striker's end for the next over. He looked at the scoreboard. 119 needed from 84 balls. He adjusted his gloves. The gum chewing rhythm returned. The Seth was in the building.
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The umpires called for the drinks cart. The Powerplay was done. India was teetering at 36 for 3. The required run rate was climbing towards 8.5 runs per over.
In the middle of the vast MCG, Virat Kohli leaned on his bat, wiping sweat from his forehead. He looked at the scoreboard, then at the dressing room. His face was a mask of concern. "The ball is gripping," Kohli murmured as Aarav Pathak walked up to him. "Nawaz is getting turn. Shadab will be tricky. We need 119 runs. If we lose one more wicket..."
Aarav took a sip of water, his eyes scanning the field placements. "Bhaiya," Aarav said "Look at me." Kohli met his gaze. "We are here," Aarav said firmly. "You and me. The King and the Prince. As long as we are standing, nothing is impossible. Don't look at the board. Look at the gaps. We break it down. Over by over. Don't worry."
Kohli exhaled, a long, shuddering breath. The panic in his eyes receded, replaced by the familiar steel. He nodded. "You're right. Let's grind."
Babar Azam brought on his vice-captain, Shadab Khan. The leg-spinner was high on confidence. He had a slip in place.
Over 7: Shadab Khan to Virat Kohli
Ball 1: Shadab tossed it up, drifting in. Kohli leaned forward, defending with soft hands back to the bowler. Dot.
Ball 2: Shadab went flatter. Kohli pushed it to cover. He looked for a single, but Shadab dived to stop it. Dot.
Ball 3: Kohli used his feet, just a shuffle to get closer to the pitch. He eased it down to long-on. 1 Run.
Ball 4: Aarav Pathak on strike. A slip was waiting for the edge. Shadab bowled a googly. Aarav read it from the hand. He stayed back and defended it into the turf. Dot.
Ball 5: Shadab flighted it outside off. Aarav waited. He opened the face of the bat late, guiding it past the backward point fielder. They ran hard. One. Two. Excellent running. 2 Runs.
Ball 6: Aarav tapped a quicker delivery to deep mid-wicket. 1 Run.
Score: India 40/3. Runs from Over: 4.
Ravi Shastri: "This is tight. Pakistan is squeezing them. Four runs off the over. The required rate creeps up to 9. But India cannot afford to take risks against Shadab yet. They have to build."
Over 8: Mohammad Nawaz to Aarav Pathak
Wasim Akram: "Nawaz continues. He got Rohit. He is bowling beautifully. Aarav Pathak is on strike. This is the battle. Aarav hit him for 18 runs in the Asia Cup, but this is the MCG. The boundaries are huge."
Ball 1: Nawaz fired it in on the pads. Aarav tried to flick but mistimed it to short fine leg. Dot.
Ball 2: Aarav stepped out, turning it into a full toss. He drove it to long-off. 1 Run.
Ball 3: Kohli on strike. He worked it with the spin to deep mid-wicket. 1 Run.
Ball 4: Aarav played a back-foot punch to long-on. 1 Run.
Ball 5: Kohli drove to deep cover. 1 Run.
Ball 6: Aarav pushed it to long-off. 1 Run.
Score: India 45/3. Runs from Over: 5.
Nasser Hussain: "This is exactly why Aarav Pathak should have come in at Number 4. Look at him. He isn't panicking. He isn't trying to hit his way out of trouble like SKY did. He understands the game situation. He is content with singles right now because he knows he can make it up later. That maturity was needed at 10 for 2, not 26 for 3."
Ravi Shastri: "Spot on, Nass. Those boundaries in his first over settled the nerves, and now he is just rotating the strike. This is intelligent cricket. But the run rate... it is ticking up. 110 needed from 72 balls."
The next two overs were a test of patience for the Indian fans. The boundaries had dried up completely. The Pakistan fielders were buzzing, their energy high.
Over 9: Shadab Khan Shadab mixed his googlies and leg-breaks perfectly. Kohli and Aarav could only manage 3 singles. Score: 48/3.
Over 10: Mohammad Nawaz bowled his next over. Kohli tried to cut but was beaten. Aarav tried to sweep but found the fielder. They scrambled 4 runs.
Score at 10 Overs: India 52/3. Virat Kohli: 12* (21) Aarav Pathak: 16* (15)
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if no. of balls is incorrect sorry but I hope everything is correct!!
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The giant screen flashed the numbers that made every Indian fan's heart sink. Target: 155. Runs Needed: 103 runs. Balls Remaining: 60 balls. Required Run Rate: 10.30.
Wasim Akram: "The pressure is building on India. 52 for 3 at the halfway mark. They need more than 10 an over now. The spinners have done a fantastic job for Babar. They have bowled 4 overs for just 16 runs since the Powerplay."
Ravi Shastri: "This is the critical phase. Someone has to go. You can't leave 60 runs for the last 5 overs against this bowling attack. The King or the Prince... one of them has to take up the mantle now. They have stabilized the ship, but now they need to steer it towards the port."
The Mid-Pitch Chat Aarav walked to Kohli. "10 an over," Aarav said. "We need a big over," Kohli wiped his face. "Nawaz has one left. Shadab has two. We have to target one of them." "I'll take Shadab," Aarav said. "You take the pacers when they come back?" "Let's see," Kohli replied. "Just stay with me. Don't lose a wicket."
The tension in the MCG was suffocating. The silence from the Indian fans was heavy. They were waiting for a spark.
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The halfway mark had passed. 52 runs on the board. 103 runs needed from 60 balls. The required rate had climbed over 10. The Indian fans were quiet, their flags resting on their laps. They needed a spark. They needed a hero. Aarav Pathak walked to the striker's end. He adjusted his gloves, staring down the pitch at Shadab Khan.
Over 11: Shadab Khan to Aarav Pathak
Ball 1: Shadab started his new spell with confidence. He tossed it up, drifting into the pads. Aarav leaned forward, smothering the spin. He pushed it back to the bowler. Dot.
Wasim Akram: "Good start. Shadab is not afraid to flight it. He knows the boundaries are big here. Aarav needs to be careful not to hole out."
Ball 2: Shadab went slightly flatter, trying to skid it through. He bowled it on a length just outside off. The field was set for the single. Deep point was back. Long-off was back. But Aarav saw a gap that no one else saw the small window between backward point and cover-point. He waited. He opened the face of the bat at the very last millisecond. He didn't hit it hard; he caressed it. A back-foot punch-drive. The ball threaded the needle perfectly. The sweeper at deep cover ran, but the angle beat him. FOUR.
Ravi Shastri: "Oh, pure class! That is absolute artistry! He found the gap where there wasn't one! The precision of a surgeon! Look at the timing; he barely touched it, and it raced away. That shows the touch he is in."
Ball 3: Shadab, rattled by the boundary, decided to bowl his variation. The Googly. He floated it up wide outside off, hoping Aarav would drag it or slice it. Aarav picked it from the hand instantly. He didn't wait. He charged. He skipped down the track, getting right to the pitch of the ball, negating the turn completely. He made room and lofted it inside-out over extra cover. It was the hardest shot in the book to play against a turning ball, and he played it with the grace of a ballet dancer. The ball sailed high into the Melbourne night. It cleared the ropes with ease. SIX!
Nasser Hussain (SCREAMING): "MAGNIFICENT! WHAT A SHOT! He read the googly, he came down the track, and he hit it inside-out over the covers! That is the shot of the tournament so far! The crowd is going wild! Listen to the MCG! Aarav Pathak is taking the attack to the best spinner in Pakistan!"
The noise was deafening. Virat Kohli at the non-striker's end punched his bat, shouting, "Shot, Pathak!"
Ball 4: Shadab was under immense pressure now. 10 runs off 3 balls. He fired it in flat and fast on the leg stump. Aarav respected the good ball. He defended it back down the pitch. Dot.
Ball 5: Shadab went wider again, but quicker this time (98 kmph). Aarav looked for the cut but decided against it at the last moment. He chopped it to point. Dot.
Ball 6: Shadab finished the over well. A wrong 'un that skidded onto the pads. Aarav tucked it to short mid-wicket. Dot.
End of Over 11.Score: India 62/3. Runs from Over: 10. Equation: 93 runs needed from 54 balls.
Wasim Akram: "A great comeback from Shadab to finish with three dots, but the damage was done. Those two shots the four and the six have changed the momentum again. 10 runs in the over are gold dust in this situation. He is looking dangerous."
Ravi Shastri: "The intent is shifting. They are not just looking to survive; they are looking to punish. That six over cover... that will hurt Shadab's confidence. The prince is flexing his muscles."
Aarav walked to Kohli. They tapped gloves. The required rate was still high, but more importantly, the belief was back in the stands.
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The previous over from Shadab Khan had yielded 10 runs, including a magnificent inside-out six from Aarav Pathak. The Indian fans were waking up. The momentum was shifting. Babar Azam brought Mohammad Nawaz back into the attack, hoping his match-up against the right-handers would work.
Over 12: Mohammad Nawaz to Virat Kohli
Ball 1: Nawaz fired it in flat, spearing it into the pads. Kohli tried to flick but missed. The ball ballooned up off the pad to Mohammad Rizwan, who was moving into the backward short leg area. "HOWZAT!" The Pakistan players went up in unison. The umpire raised his finger! OUT!
Kohli reviewed immediately. He signaled 'High' or 'Leg side'.
Third Umpire: "Checking for UltraEdge... No bat involved. Straight off the pad. Moving to Ball Tracking." The tracking loaded. Impact: Outside Leg. Decision: NOT OUT.
Ravi Shastri: "Saved! The umpire got carried away by the appeal! It was miles outside leg. Kohli survives. Heart-in-mouth moment for India."
Ball 2: Kohli was annoyed. He tapped the pitch hard. Nawaz ran in again, trying to fire it on the stumps. Kohli jumped out of his crease. He stepped leg-side to create swinging room. He got into the perfect position against the middle-and-leg ball. He launched it. High. Straight. Handsome. It sailed back over the non-striker's head and landed in the sightscreen. SIX!
Wasim Akram: "That is authority! The King joins the party! If the Prince hits a six, the King says 'I am still here!' He didn't let the previous delivery bother him. He just stepped out and dismissed it. Pakistan is losing the plot here."
Nasser Hussain: "That is the release shot Kohli needed. He has been scratching around for 12 runs, but that shot screams confidence."
Ball 3: Kohli pushed a flat length ball towards mid-wicket for a single. 1 Run.
Ball 4: Aarav Pathak on strike. He had watched Kohli hit the six. He adjusted his gloves. He made himself a lot of room in advance, backing away to the leg side. Nawaz saw the movement and tried to follow him with a flat slider. But he didn't cramp him enough. Aarav cleared his front leg. He used the pace and swiped it away. It wasn't a slog; it was a controlled whip over the mid-wicket boundary. Made a difficult hit look ridiculously easy. SIX!
Ravi Shastri: "He is changing gears now! Aarav Pathak is not waiting for the death overs! He is taking Nawaz apart! That was hit with such disdain!"
Ball 5: Nawaz was under severe pressure. 13 runs off the over already. He tried to bowl flat and fast on off-stump, hoping Aarav would miss. Aarav didn't move much. He just cleared his front leg to open up, he went straight. He mowed it over long-on. Proper Power. The fielder at long-on, Babar Azam, ran back. He was interested for about two-thirds of the ball's flight. Then he stopped and watched it sail twenty rows back. HUGE SIX!
Nasser Hussain (Stunned): "WOW! That is enormous! The biggest six of the day! He just stood there and muscled it over long-on! 100 meters plus! (107 m) Aarav Pathak is destroying the spin attack single-handedly!"
Ball 6: Nawaz, visibly shaken, fired it in short and wide. Aarav cut it to point. Dot.
End of Over 12.Score: India 81/3. Runs from Over: 19. Equation: 74 runs needed from 48 balls.
Wasim Akram: "This over has changed the game. 19 runs. Pakistan had control, but Nawaz has leaked runs in his spell so far. The required rate has dropped below 10. India is charging."
Ravi Shastri: "The intent is clear. They are targeting the spinners. Aarav Pathak has moved to 38 off 19 balls. He is striking at 200. Kohli is supporting him perfectly (19 of 24 balls). The panic is setting in for Pakistan."
The Indian dugout was on its feet. Rohit Sharma was clapping hard. The partnership was blossoming into a match-winning one.
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The game had shifted gears. Aarav Pathak's blitz in the previous over had brought the crowd alive, but Babar Azam wasn't done. He played his ace card. Shaheen Shah Afridi. He brought his strike bowler back early to break this partnership before it took the game away completely.
Over 13: Shaheen Shah Afridi to Virat Kohli
Ravi Shastri: "Here comes Shaheen. Babar is going for the kill. He knows if these two bat for another four overs, the game is India's. Kohli on strike. 19 off 24 balls. He needs to keep the momentum going."
Ball 1: Shaheen steams in, angling it across the right-hander. Kohli leans forward and works it with soft hands into the massive gap at deep mid-wicket. He calls early. "Two, two, two!" They sprint. Aarav turns like a sprinter at the blocks. They complete the second with ease. 2 Runs.
Ball 2: Shaheen goes fuller, searching for the yorker but missing slightly. Kohli drives it firmly to long-on. It goes straight to the fielder. Ideally, this is a single. But Kohli pushes off. He sees the fielder is slightly on his heels. "PUSH! PUSH!" Kohli screams. Aarav responds instantly. They turn blind for the second. The throw comes in to the bowler's end, but Aarav dives and makes his ground. 2 Runs.
Wasim Akram: "That is unbelievable running! That was a simple single, but they stole a second! They are running like cheetahs out there! That puts so much pressure on the fielder."
Ball 3: Shaheen shortens the length. Back of a length, angling into the body. Kohli was waiting for it. He gets inside the line, rolls his wrists, and tucks it away neatly fine of the deep square leg fielder. The timing is superb. The fielder runs to his right, dives, but the ball wins the race. FOUR.
Michael Atherton: "Nicely done. He used Shaheen's pace against him. Just a little tickle, and it races away on this fast outfield. Kohli is moving through the gears now."
Ball 4: Kohli taps a length ball to point for a quick single. 1 Run.
Ball 5: Aarav Pathak on strike. 38 off 19. Shaheen bowls a heavy ball, cramping Aarav for room. Aarav defends it back down the pitch. Dot.
Ball 6: Shaheen nails the yorker this time. 145 kmph. Aarav digs it out to mid-off. He looks for a run, but Kohli sends him back. Dot.
End of Over 13.Score: India 90/3. Runs from Over: 9. Equation: 65 runs needed from 42 balls.
Babar Azam had to switch ends for his spinners. Shadab Khan changed ends, coming in to bowl the 14th over. Kohli knew this was the over to target before the death overs began.
Over 14: Shadab Khan to Virat Kohli
Ball 1: Shadab starts badly. Short and wide outside off. A real drag-down. With cover point in the circle and extra-cover back on the boundary, it was a gift. Kohli rocks back. He slaps the cut shot. He beats the diving cover point fielder to his right. The deep fielder at sweeper cover runs around, but he has far too much ground to cover. FOUR.
Ravi Shastri: "Poor bowling! You cannot bowl short and wide to Virat Kohli with the field up! He punishes it instantly! That releases all the pressure Shaheen built in the last two balls!"
Ball 2: Shadab corrects his line, bowling fuller on the stumps. Kohli drives it down to long-off. 1 Run.
Ball 3: Aarav on strike. Shadab tosses it up, trying to tempt him. Aarav drives firmly to cover. A sharp stop by the fielder. Dot.
Ball 4: Aarav pushes a flatter delivery to deep mid-wicket. 1 Run.
Ball 5: Kohli on strike. He uses his feet, turning a length ball into a full toss. He whips it to deep mid-wicket. The fielders converge. They run the first one hard. "Two! Two!" They hustle back for the second. 2 Runs.
Wasim Akram: "They are running Pakistan ragged! Every gap is a two. This fitness level is elite. Babar needs to stop these doubles; they are bleeding runs without hitting boundaries."
Ball 6: Kohli keeps the strike. He works the last ball to long-on. 1 Run.
End of Over 14.Score: India 99/3. Runs from Over: 9. Equation: 56 runs needed from 36 balls.
Michael Atherton: "India is managing this chase perfectly right now. 9 runs from Shaheen, 9 runs from Shadab. They haven't taken any crazy risks, yet the required rate is hovering around 9.3, which is very manageable with these two set. Aarav is on 39, Kohli is on 31. They look ominous."
Ravi Shastri: "56 off 36. That is T20 gold. The foundation is laid. Now, we enter the business end. The death overs. Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah are waiting. This is where the match will be decided."
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Babar Azam brought back his young spearhead, Naseem Shah, hoping to break the stand with raw pace. Naseem had been electric in his first spell.
Ball 1: Naseem bowled full, attacking the stumps. Kohli leaned forward and clipped it through mid-wicket. The placement was immaculate. The outfield was quick, but the boundary riders were alert. Kohli and Aarav ran hard. 2 Runs.
Ball 2: Naseem shortened the length. Kohli tapped it to cover and scampered for a quick single. 1 Run.
Ball 3: Aarav on strike. Naseem bowled a yorker. Aarav dug it out to mid-off. Aarav called Kohli through. "YES!" They stole the single before the fielder could swoop in. 1 Run.
Ball 4: Kohli back on strike. Naseem bowled a length ball, slightly drifting onto the pads. You don't bowl there to Virat Kohli when he is set. Kohli used his wrists. He whipped it. The ball raced through the gap between deep mid-wicket and long-on. The fielder dived in vain. FOUR.
Ravi Shastri: "Whipped! That is the trademark shot! He picks the length so early. That boundary releases the pressure again."
Ball 5: Kohli pushed a fuller ball to long-on. 1 Run.
Ball 6: Aarav on strike. Last ball of the over. Naseem tried a slower ball. Aarav picked it. He guided it to deep point for a single, ensuring he kept the strike for the next over. 1 Run.
End of Over 15.Score: India 109/3. Runs from Over: 10. Equation: 46 runs needed from 30 balls.
Over 16:
Haris Rauf came back. He had been expensive but had taken wickets. Babar trusted his pace.
Ball 1: Aarav on strike. Rauf banged it in short. 147 kmph. Aarav swayed out of the way. Dot.
Ball 2: Rauf went full. Aarav drove it to mid-off. A quick single taken. 1 Run.
Ball 3: Kohli on strike. The crowd chanted "Kohli! Kohli!" Rauf bowled a heavy ball, back of a length, angling in. Kohli tried to punch it but was cramped for room. He defended it back down the pitch. Dot.
Ball 4: Kohli worked a length ball to deep mid-wicket. 1 Run.
Ball 5: Aarav on strike. Rauf tried a bouncer. He got it wrong. It was short, but way down the leg side. Aarav swiveled to pull but realized it was too wide. He aborted the shot. The ball flew towards fine leg. Mohammad Rizwan flew to his left. He leaped like a goalkeeper. He got the edge of his glove to the ball, deflecting it away from the boundary. It saved a certain four. The batters ran two. The umpire signaled Wide. 3 Runs (Extras).
Ball 5 (Re-bowl): Rauf, frustrated, ran in again. He bowled a perfect length ball on off stump. Aarav defended. Dot.
Ball 6: Rauf finished with a scorching yorker. Aarav dug it out. Dot.
End of Over 16.Runs from Over: 5. Score: India 114/3. Equation: 41 runs needed from 24 balls.
Nasser Hussain: "A mixed bag from Rauf. That wide was costly, but Rizwan saved a boundary with that dive. 41 from 24. That is just over 10 an over. It's getting tight. India needs a big over now. The next four overs will decide the World Cup opener."
Wasim Akram: "Babar needs to use Shaheen wisely. He has one over left. Naseem has one. Rauf has one. Spinners are done. Who bowls the other over? It has to be Nawaz or a part-timer. That is the weak link India will target."
The game was entering the death zone. Every ball was an event.
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