Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has extended his gratitude to Indian batting mainstay Virat Kohli for his match-winning knock during his side’s six-wicket win over fierce-rival Pakistan in their World T20 clash at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Kohli paid his respect to Tendulkar as he bowed down to the master blaster after reaching his half century. ‘Great Win Team India. Thank you for the innings and gesture @imVkohli! #IndvsPak,’ Tendulkar wrote on Twitter.
Pleased with the affection provided by the Men in Blue, the global cricket icon tweeted, ‘Team India returning to the dressing room after the game, waved to me. Felt like I never left the team...#IndvsPak.’ Kohli, who was also declared `man of the match`, smashed seven boundaries and a six in his blistering unbeaten knock of 55 runs off 37 balls. India registered their 11th overall win against the arch-rival in the World T20s and the World Cups.
With the win, India have gained two points in the Group B table, but are still lacking behind Pakistan in terms of run rate. India will next face Bangladesh at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
The exhilaration of being India's hero in the crunch World Twenty20 clash against Pakistan aside, batting star Virat Kohli said he felt emotionally overwhelmed to have done it in front of the iconic Sachin Tendulkar.
Kohli's unbeaten 37-ball 55 helped India overahul a target of 119 in 18 overs last night to continue their winning run against Pakistan in ICC events.
The swashbuckling right-hander said to have played the knock with Tendulkar in attendance added to his happiness.
"I can't express the feeling...Sachin Tendulkar was up there in the stands. I have seen Sachin paaji do that for India for years together and seen how people shout for him. I have gotten a chance to do it in front of him and he was celebrating," Kohli told 'bcci.tv'.
"I cannot explain that feeling as a youngster who has grown up playing cricket because of him. To be able to do it in front of him and give him happiness. I am very grateful for it and it was a very emotional moment," he said.
India lost the tournament-opener to New Zealand in Nagpur and Kohli said it is imperative for the team to win the remaining two matches against Australia and Bangladesh. "I think this is a perfect catalyst for us going forward into this tournament. You have to stay positive, no matter what. That is the name of the game in international cricket.
There is nothing you can do about a bad loss, but what you have to do is learn from it, and come out positive," he said. "When you are sitting in that room, you want to be the guy that makes the difference in the game and win the game for the team single-handedly. If all eleven guys can think like that, then the team is in a good space," he added.
Speaking of the opening loss, Kohli said he was disappointed with himself for not doing enough in the match. "Last game, I was really disappointed with myself. I got out on 25 (23), I wanted to win the game for the team but that is how cricket goes sometimes. I knew if I had batted till 40 -45 runs, we could have pulled that game out of trouble and we could have won that one as well. It doesn't happen every time," he said.
"I was really disappointed after that loss. I went back to the room and thought about what needs to be done. Tonight, we were in a similar situation in this game. But such games and situations just improve you as a cricketer and I look forward to challenges like these," he said.
Asked what his mindset was going into last night's match, Kohli said, "I told myself in the change room that I am going to back myself to play good cricketing shots." "This works for me in all situations. I remain pretty calm. Luckily my heart rate was low (smiles) when we lost three wickets, it could have shot up as it was a big game and a full stadium at the Eden Gardens. I am just grateful I was able to do it," he added.
