Virat Kohli’s famous six against Haris Rauf
His ability to anchor the innings, accelerate when needed, and take control of high-stakes encounters has made him a standout performer against Pakistan. This remarkable consistency is why he holds the record for the most Man of the Match awards for India in T20 clashes against Pakistan. Here’s the complete list of his game-changing innings.
Playing against Pakistan in cricket is always intense. The matches are highly competitive, with both teams giving their best. Performing well in these games requires not only skill but also courage and the ability to handle enormous pressure. Virat Kohli has been exceptional in such situations, especially in T20 matches. During his T20 career, he won the Man of the Match award four times against Pakistan, more than any other Indian player.
| Name of the Player | Number of Man of the Match Awards vs Pakistan (T20I Tournaments) |
|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 4 |
| Irfan Pathan | 1 |
| Amit Mishra | 1 |
| Hardik Pandya | 1 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 1 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 1 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 1 |
This shows how reliable and impactful he has been in some highest-pressure games in cricket. Kohli’s record stands out because India-Pakistan games are not just normal matches. They carry historic rivalry, fan expectations, and high stakes. Winning or performing well in these matches can define careers, and Kohli consistently rose to the occasion. His four Man of the Match awards reflect not just his batting skill but also his ability to stay calm and deliver when it matters most.
Other Indian players have also made significant contributions in T20 matches against Pakistan. Irfan Pathan, Amit Mishra, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Abhishek Sharma have each won a Man of the Match award in these encounters. These players include bowlers, all-rounders, and spinners, showing that success against Pakistan has not been limited to batsmen. Let’s uncover all the 4 matches where Virat Kohli won the Man of the Match award against Pakistan in the T20 Format.
On September 30, 2012, Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium crackled with tension for the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash. Pakistan batted first, stumbling to 128 in 19.4 overs. Their innings never found rhythm, with Mohammad Hafeez scratching out 15 before Virat Kohli, turning bowler, dismissed him with a sly delivery. Imran Nazir and Shahid Afridi, known for fireworks, fizzled with 8 and 14, failing to spark. Shoaib Malik battled for 28 off 22, and Umar Akmal added 21, but India’s bowlers dominated. Lakshmipathy Balaji shone, grabbing three wickets for 22 runs, his pace variations bamboozling batsmen.
| Pakistan vs India, T20 World Cup 2012 | |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | India |
| 128 (19.4 overs) | 129/2 (17 overs) |
| Shoaib Malik 28 (22) | Virat Kohli 78* (61) |
| Lakshmipathy Balaji 3/22 (3.4 overs) | Raza Hasan 1/22 (4 overs) |
| India won by 8 wickets | |
Ravichandran Ashwin spun a tight web, taking two for 16, while Yuvraj Singh’s two wickets piled on pressure. Kohli bowled three disciplined overs, conceding 21 runs and nabbing Hafeez, proving his all-round worth. Pakistan’s batsmen crumbled, wickets falling at key moments, their innings a stuttering mess. Chasing 129, India wobbled when Gautam Gambhir nicked one for a duck in the second over, hearts racing in the stands. Virender Sehwag steadied the ship with 29 off 24, but Shahid Afridi’s breakthrough left India needing a savior.
Virat Kohli delivered a masterclass, unbeaten on 78 off 61 balls, stroking eight boundaries and two massive sixes. His shots were precise, calm under fire, finding gaps effortlessly. Yuvraj Singh played a solid support role, unbeaten on 19 off 16, as India cruised to an eight-wicket victory with 18 balls to spare. Kohli’s brilliance with bat and ball earned the Player of the Match award, his composure in this high-stakes India-Pakistan battle showcasing a rare ability to thrive in pressure. The stadium roared as India sealed the win, Kohli’s measured aggression and clever bowling turning the tide in a clash that had fans on edge.
February 27, 2016, saw Mirpur’s Shere Bangla Stadium alive with anticipation for the India-Pakistan Asia Cup T20 showdown. Pakistan batted first, collapsing to a dismal 83 in 17.3 overs. Their top order imploded as Mohammad Hafeez out for 4, Sharjeel Khan for 7, and Khurram Manzoor run out for 10 by a pinpoint throw from Virat Kohli. Shoaib Malik managed 4, Umar Akmal just 3, as Pakistan’s batsmen floundered. Sarfaraz Ahmed fought alone, scraping 25 off 24, but it was a lost cause.
| Pakistan vs India, Asia Cup 2016 | |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | India |
| 83 (17.3 overs) | 85/5 (15.3 overs) |
| Sarfaraz Ahmed 25 (24) | Virat Kohli 49 (51) |
| Hardik Pandya 3/8 (3.3 overs) | Mohammad Amir 3/18 (4 overs) |
| India won by 5 wickets | |
India’s bowlers were merciless as Hardik Pandya ripped through with three wickets for 8 runs, a spell of pure fire. Ravindra Jadeja’s spin claimed two, while Yuvraj Singh and Ashish Nehra took one each. Jasprit Bumrah, still green, bowled with venom, snagging a key wicket. Pakistan leaned on 15 extras, but India’s bowlers, reading the pitch perfectly, made batting a nightmare. Chasing 84, India’s start was chaos. Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane fell for ducks in the first over, and Suresh Raina’s 1 left India at 8 for 3, tension gripping the crowd. Virat Kohli walked in, unflappable, crafting 49 off 51 balls with seven crisp boundaries.
His approach was methodical, picking gaps with ease and punishing loose balls. Yuvraj Singh held firm, unbeaten on 14 off 32, while MS Dhoni’s 7 not out off three balls finished it. India reached 85 for 5 in 15.3 overs, clinching a five-wicket win with 27 balls left. Kohli’s steady hand transformed a near-disaster into a comfortable victory, his calm presence steering India through a low-scoring, high-pressure scrap. The Mirpur crowd erupted as India crossed the line, Kohli’s calculated innings proving pivotal in this intense India-Pakistan battle, where every run felt like a war won.
On March 19, 2016, Kolkata’s Eden Gardens was a cauldron of noise for the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup Super 10 clash. Pakistan batted first, posting 118 for 5 in a rain-shortened 18-over match. Sharjeel Khan labored to 17 off 24, Ahmed Shehzad made 25 off 28, but wickets fell regularly. Umar Akmal’s 22 off 16 and Shoaib Malik’s 26 off 16 gave late momentum, with Shahid Afridi adding a cameo.
| Pakistan vs India, T20 World Cup 2016 | |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | India |
| 118/5 (18 overs) | 119/4 (15.5 overs) |
| Shoaib Malik 26 (16) | Virat Kohli 55* (37) |
| Suresh Raina 1/4 (1 over) | Mohammad Sami 2/17 (2 overs) |
| India won by 6 wickets | |
Seven extras helped on a slow, tricky pitch. India’s bowlers were disciplined as Ashish Nehra, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Suresh Raina, and Hardik Pandya each claimed a wicket. Nehra and Jadeja were stingy, leaking just 20 runs each in four overs, while Bumrah’s dismissal of Shehzad shifted the game. India’s attack kept Pakistan in check, preventing a breakout. Chasing 119, India stumbled early and Rohit Sharma (10), Shikhar Dhawan (6), and Suresh Raina (0) fell inside the powerplay, leaving India at 23 for 3, the crowd holding its breath.
Virat Kohli strode out, delivering an unbeaten 55 off 37 balls, with seven fours and one six, at a brisk 148.64 strike rate. He played the slow pitch like a master, flicking shots into gaps and hammering bad balls. Yuvraj Singh’s 24 off 23 provided crucial support, while MS Dhoni’s unbeaten 13 sealed the chase. India hit 119 for 4 in 15.5 overs, securing a six-wicket win with 13 balls to spare. Kohli’s poise earned the Player of the Match award, his ability to stay cool under pressure turning the tide. In this electric India-Pakistan showdown, Kohli’s precision and composure shone, flipping a shaky start into a commanding victory, the Kolkata faithful roaring as India crossed the line in style.
October 23, 2022, and Melbourne’s MCG was a sea of passion for the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup Group 2 clash. Pakistan batted first, posting 159 for 8 in 20 overs. Babar Azam fell for a duck, Mohammad Rizwan for 4, leaving them at 1 for 1. Shan Masood’s 52 off 42 and Iftikhar Ahmed’s 51 off 34, with nine boundaries and four sixes, rebuilt the innings. Mohammad Nawaz (9 off 6) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (16 off 8) added late runs, with 12 extras helping.
| Pakistan vs India, T20 World Cup 2022 | |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | India |
| 159/8 (20 overs) | 160/6 (20 overs) |
| Shan Masood 52* (42) | Virat Kohli 82* (53) |
| Hardik Pandya 3/30 (4 overs) | Haris Rauf 2/36 (4 overs) |
| India won by 4 wickets | |
India’s bowlers struck early as Arshdeep Singh took 3 for 32, Hardik Pandya matched with 3 for 30, while Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar grabbed one each, breaking key partnerships. Chasing 160, India’s top order collapsed. KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma fell for 4 each, Suryakumar Yadav made 15, and Axar Patel scored 2, leaving India at 31 for 4 in the sixth over. Virat Kohli entered a pressure cooker, playing an unforgettable 82 not out off 53 balls, with six fours and four sixes. His 100-run stand with Hardik Pandya (40 off 37) mixed grit with flair, turning the game. Kohli’s timing on the pace-friendly MCG pitch was sublime, finding gaps with ease.
India reached 160 in exactly 20 overs, winning by four wickets with no balls left. Kohli’s epic knock earned the Player of the Match award, his composure, and aggression snatching victory from near-defeat. In this heart-stopping India-Pakistan thriller, Kohli’s ability to rise to the occasion was electric, the MCG erupting as India pulled off a famous win in the final over, every shot a testament to his big-match temperament.