Cricket fans go WILD in Sydney’s streets after India beat Pakistan in T20 World Cup
Cricket fans go WILD in the streets after India beat Pakistan in a T20 World Cup thriller billed as one of the ‘best matches of all time’.
Indian cricket fans have flooded the streets of Sydney’s western suburbs after their national team’s touchdown against Pakistan in the 2022 ICC T20 Men’s World Cup.
The Indian side looked dead and buried against arch-rivals Pakistan after faltering 4-31 after an early collapse and at one point needing more than 13 runs for an over to challenge.
But they secured a thrilling final ball victory in a match that was widely ranked as the greatest international T20 of all time.
Man-of-the-match and cult Indian hero Virat Kohli got the job done with his 82*, including two crucial sixes in the penultimate game, to steer his side home in front of 90,293 screaming fans at the MCG.
It was a record crowd for a cricket match in Australia involving two neutral teams and the passion for the game didn’t end there as Indian nationals from Sydney took to the streets to celebrate after the dramatic final ball victory.
According to the 2021 census, 130,573 Indians call Sydney home, and many of them took to the streets to celebrate the momentous victory over Pakistan.
“To be honest, I have no words,” said Kohli after his exploits.
“I have no idea how that happened. I just kept believing in it and stayed there to the end. All the months I fought, the Indian supporters kept me going.
‘Thank you very much. That should be. It’s a really special moment.”
Fans cheer during the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan
Virat Kohli and Ravi Ashwin celebrate after making the big escape against Pakistan
Captain Rohit Sharma was impressed with Kohli’s batting performance and rated it his best shot in a long career of great T20, ODI and Test innings.
“I was in the dressing room. I am out of words. That’s to be expected in a game like this. We wanted to stay in the game as long as possible,” he said.
“This pivotal partnership was the defining moment for us. Both boys are experienced. It was very important to stay calm and take the game deep.
“Good for our confidence. Always crucial to get off the mark. We weren’t able to win that. It has to be Virat’s best rapping game for India.’
Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz reacts after his last over where he conceded a no ball and a wide
The deflated Pakistani captain Babar Azam also paid tribute to Kohli.
“Our bowlers bowled really well. We had a chance, we tried to stick to our plans. But credit goes to Virat Kohli.”
advertisement
Share or comment on this article:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-11346745/Cricket-fans-WILD-Sydneys-streets-India-beat-Pakistan-T20-World-Cup.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 Cricket fans go WILD in Sydney’s streets after India beat Pakistan in T20 World Cup
