Virat Kohli’s down-the-ground six off Haris Rauf during the T20 World Cup 2022 has been greeted as the “shot of the century” by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The commentators termed it the “shot of an emperor,” and it took no time to win fandom. That shot has left even South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi in awe, who spoke about it while narrating a clip of the shot.
It was almost an Indian turnaround point. India was on four per cent when Virat Kohli hit two consecutive sixes off Rauf to turn things around dramatically with a much-needed coup over the ropes, which eventually saw India through in the thrilling win. It only helped to make the shot more legendary.
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And Tabraiz Shamsi reacted to the clip, couldn’t help but call it an “unreal shot.” On ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Shamsi posted, “He had no business hitting THAT BALL over the bowler’s head for 6! Unreal Shot!” His teammate, Tristan Stubbs, cheekily responded, “Do you practice that shot? I heard you’re an all-rounder.”
Do you practice that shot, i heard you’re an allrounder
— Tristan Stubbs (@iTristanstubbs) September 13, 2024
Kohli’s heroics were only more poignant because a few days later, he announced his T20I retirement. It happened on July 27 in Barbados after India won the T20 World Cup 2024. The superstar batter was instrumental in the final, where India’s top-order collapse was pegged back into the semifinal scare by as many as 76 runs off 59 balls from Kohli who was then awarded Player of the Match.
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“It is a great time for the young generation to come into the team,” Kohli said. “It’s time for the next generation to take over. It’s a two-year cycle for the next T20 World Cup. There are some amazing players in India who will carry this team forward and do wonders, as they’ve shown in the Indian Premier League. I have no doubt they’ll keep the flag flying high,” Kohli said after the game.
