"Virat Kohli gave me like 7 options to play one ball" : Ravi Ashwin recalls epic T20 WC clash vs Pakistan

Ravi Ashwin recalled how Virat Kohli gave him seven options for a single ball in the 2022 T20 WC epic game against Pakistan.

India defeated Pakistan in a nail-biting encounter at the MCG in the T20 World Cup 2022. The match witnessed a last-ball finish with Ravi Ashwin hitting the final ball to a boundary.

In an official interview with ICC, the Indian all-rounder recalled the final tense moments with the bat.

“I was cursing Dinesh Karthik for asking me to do the tougher job. As I was just cursing him, when I walked in, I realised the enormity of what I was getting into. People yelling, I haven't seen such a crowd ever," he said.

Chasing 160 to win, Virat Kohli scored a half-century, which took the Indian side closer to victory. The team needed two runs from the final delivery. Ashwin was on the strike for the final ball. Pakistan spinner Mohammad Nawaz bowled a wide one, which levelled the proceedings. India then needed one to win. Ashwin then lofted Nawaz over the mid-on to take the team home.

“The moment he [Nawaz] bowled a wide, I knew I won the contest. I think cricket, in so many ways, is going to give you a lot of messages that way. So that’s where I brought my positivity from. I knew I’d won the game," he said.

Virat Kohli gave me like 7 options to play off that one ball: Ravi Ashwin

Virat Kohli, who was almost flawless during the game, had a talk with the Indian all-rounder and had apparently given him seven options for a single delivery.

“Virat Kohli gave me like 7 options to play off that one ball. If only I was that capable of playing all those shots, I wouldn’t be batting at No. 8. I just talked to myself - I couldn’t say that to him. I looked at Virat and his eyes seemed like he was possessed. And I said, okay he’s on another planet, let me come back to earth", he added.

He also praised Virat Kohli's knock by calling it one of the best. “Honestly, terrific innings by Virat. It’s one of the better games I have watched and been a part of."

Ashwin also spoke about how he still remembers all the moments and thinks about it every night he goes to sleep.

“I think about it every night when I go to sleep. Every time I see the video on social media, I think about what if the ball had just gripped and hit my pad? It was pretty close for comfort. I just felt that the game was meant to be finished by me.”

Despite having a great start to the tournament, India failed to make it to the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup. The team hasn't won a World Cup since MS Dhoni famously finished things off in style at Wankhede Stadium. India will be hoping to repeat history as they will be hosting the upcoming Men's ODI World Cup in October. India will take on Australia in the first game on October 8 in Chennai.