There are some lines by commentators that remain stuck in fans’ heads and it forms a special part of their memory. It is mainly not because of the superlatives used for a player but because of the importance of the match or the situation in which that knock was played.
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Legendary broadcaster Harsha Bhogle is one of the bests in his profession and has given quite a few lines to cherish for the Indian fans. However, Bhogle screaming ‘Kohli goes down the ground, Kohli goes out of the ground’ during the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 match between India and Pakistan has a separate fanbase.
Those lines by Bhogle to describe former India captain Virat Kohli’s six against Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf are arguably among the topmost lines said by a commentator with respect to Indian cricket. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri‘s way to describe India’s title victories in ICC World Twenty20 2007 and ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 are already part of this elite list.
Kohli Goes Down The Ground Meaning In Cricket
Whenever there is an India and Pakistan game, the stakes are always very high. A jam-packed Melbourne Cricket Ground was ready to witness the action, and it was one of the closest games in history. Batting first, Pakistan scored 159/8 in the first innings and it looked like India would chase the target without a lot of discomfort.
However, they got off to a disastrous start. At 6.1 overs, they were at 31/4. At that moment, all-rounder Hardik Pandya joined Kohli in the middle. Both of them started to build the innings, but they were struggling to catch up with the required run rate.
The chase was getting difficult, but due to Kohli’s presence, the fans had expectations considering his record in run-chases. Slowly and steadily, Kohli was going forward and he was looking adamant to take his side over the line. After the 10th over, both Pandya and Kohli tried accelerating and scored 55 runs in the next five overs.
In the end, India needed 31 runs off the last two overs, which is never easy. In the first four balls, they could just score three runs. It was that very moment when Kohli hit a stunning six straight over Rauf’s head which forced Bhogle to recite those famous lines. It was a slower short ball and it was almost impossible to hit that ball for a maximum on a ground like the MCG.
Kohli smashed yet another six on the next ball, and India eventually won the match by 4 wickets. He remained unbeaten on 82* (53) with the help of six fours and four sixes. Even Kohli admitted that the day will always be very special for him.
Legends Opine on Virat Kohli’s Six off Haris Rauf
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting was so impressed with Kohli’s six that he called it the best shot in the history of the T20 World Cup. Bhogle also called it one of the greatest T20 shots of all time.
Shastri was also thrilled with those sixes, and he compared Kohli’s knock to that of Sachin Tendulkar‘s against Pakistan in ICC Cricket World Cup 2003. He called both these knocks as biggest in Indian cricket history.
“I Have No Idea What You Said” – Virat Kohli To Rahul Dravid
In an interview with the brand ‘Puma’, Kohli recalled that match against Pakistan. Kohli said that he was in so much pressure that he was switched off during that innings. The run rate was just going high, and the Pakistan attack was great as well. He shared an interesting incident regarding India head coach Rahul Dravid.
Kohli highlighted that Dravid came to him and Pandya during the halfway mark, but Kohli was so into the moment that he paid no attention to the coach’s advice. He even informed Dravid about the same after the match.
“In the break, Rahul Bhai came to speak. I don’t remember what he said, I swear, and I told him that as well. I said to him ‘I have no idea what you said’,” Kohli had said.
Kohli might have not listened to Dravid, but the way he played that match was incredible. It is certain that he will also remember that match for the rest of his life.
