Kohli also admitted that he did not remember what Rahul Dravid told him during a break because he was "zoned out"
Former India captain, Virat Kohli, has reflected on his famous knock in the 2022 T20 World Cup match against Pakistan in Australia.
Kohli revealed that during the match, he had almost given up and felt he was spiraling down fast after his team was 31 for 4 at the 10th over mark. However, he credited his instinct for taking over and leading him to an incredible knock that left the entire cricketing world in awe.
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“I was going through what I was going through, then I came back in the Asia Cup and I was playing well and I felt like 'Wow I’m ready to play in this World Cup’. At the 10th over mark, we were 31 for 4 and I had just ran Axar out. I was 12 off 25 balls, or something." said Kohli.
The 34-year-old also admitted that he did not remember what Rahul Dravid told him during a break because he was "zoned out."
"I remember in the break, Rahul bhai came to me and I don’t remember what he said. I swear and I even told him this as well. I told him, 'I have no idea what you told me in that break because I was zoned out,” he said.
He shared that he felt something higher was guiding him and that he couldn't claim any of it. He further stated that the lesson he learned from that experience was to stop using his mind so much as it pushes one away from real magic.
“My mind was spinning so fast…I was like this is worse than it was before. I had spiralled down so far down that there is no comeback from here and that was my honest feeling at the halfway mark. "
"That is when my instinct took over. So, when I stopped thinking and planning, whatever God-given talent I have that came to the surface and then I felt like something higher was guiding me. I can’t claim any of that. I was trying to do it before as well but it wasn’t working."
"The lesson for me was stop using your mind so much because it actually pushes you away from real magic. What happened that night, I can never explain it and it won’t happen ever again,” Kohli concluded.
Kohli's innings, which included a straight six off Haris Rauf, has become one of the most iconic shots in cricket history.