‘Maarne to chhakka hi ja raha hai woh’: Kohli’s Reassurance to Rohit Before India’s Thrilling Win Over Australia
'Maarne to chhakka hi ja raha hai woh': Kohli’s Reassurance to Rohit Before India’s Thrilling Win Over Australia
Dubai: The tension was high at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium as India chased a tricky target in the semi-final against Australia. Inside the Indian dressing room, Virat Kohli stood at the front, eager to witness the final moments, while captain Rohit Sharma sat quietly, looking tense.
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The nervous atmosphere quickly transformed into one of celebration as KL Rahul smashed a six, sealing India’s four-wicket victory with 11 balls to spare. The dressing room erupted with cheers, with players embracing each other in relief and joy.
Kohli’s Confidence Amidst the Pressure
India’s chase of 264 had a shaky start, losing two early wickets for just 43 runs. However, Kohli anchored the innings with a composed 84 off 98 balls, supported by Shreyas Iyer (45), Rahul (42*), and Hardik Pandya (28).
Just before the winning shot, the BCCI released footage from the dressing room showing Kohli reassuring Rohit. As Ravindra Jadeja walked out to bat, Kohli confidently said, “Maarne to chhakka hi ja raha hai woh” (He’s going in to hit a six). However, it was Rahul who fulfilled that prediction, launching Glenn Maxwell’s delivery over long-on for the match-winning six.
Kohli’s Historic Feat
The celebrations continued as Kohli, Mohammed Shami, and Hardik Pandya embraced each other, while a smiling Rohit was congratulated by Kohli. The Player of the Match award was given to Kohli for his brilliant innings.
Kohli also set a new milestone, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 23 fifty-plus scores in ICC ODI tournaments. With 24 such scores in 53 innings, he further cemented his legacy. Additionally, he became the first player to reach 1,000 runs in knockout matches across all ICC tournaments, including the ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, World Test Championship, and Champions Trophy.
