On this day in 2012 – A Virat Kohli masterclass in Sachin Tendulkar’s final ODI for India

On this day in 2012 – A Virat Kohli masterclass in Sachin Tendulkar’s final ODI for India

Sachin Tendulkar

Nine years ago, on the 18th of March, India pulled off a stunning 330-run chase in the Asia Cup against Pakistan. The hero of the match was current Indian skipper Virat Kohli who notched up his highest score in ODIs with a top quality knock of 183 runs. There were also centuries from Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez but amidst all this, there is one other reason the match is remembered for.

It was the great Sachin Tendulkar‘s last-ever match in One Day Internationals. However, it was not known back then as the ‘Little Master’ did not announce his retirement beforehand. The announcement came only in December of that year by when the games had dried up for him at the highest stage. Despite the lowkey last ODI due to the aforesaid reason for Sachin, he shone with the bat and laid the foundation for a Kohli special – almost like he was handing over the baton.

Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma take over from Sachin Tendulkar

Virat Kohli Pakistan Asia Cup
Virat Kohli celebrates his hundred

Pakistan had won the toss in the encounter and chosen to bat first. They were in a very strong position in the tournament while India needed to win to stay afloat. Despite the fact that Pakistan went on to win the tournament and India couldn’t make it to the final, the match on the 18th of March was well and truly a special one for Indian cricket as it not only produced one of the best run chases in an India-Pakistan encounter, but also served as Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell match.

Pakistan got to 329 in their 50 overs riding on centuries from both their openers. India had their task cut out and it only got worse when Gautam Gambhir was dismissed for a duck in the first over. It was then that Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli took over. It was an assured knock from the latter as he got to his fifty before being dismissed by Saeed Ajmal. It was then the Kohli-Rohit Sharma show as the duo who are till date going strong in world cricket, came up with a stupendous partnership to take India to victory.

The match was poetic in a sense, since Sachin Tendulkar exited the field and two promising batsmen who were destined for greatness took it upon themselves to lead the nation in the future.

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