A thrilling pursuit at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium kept spectators in suspense, and the Indian dressing room was no exception. Virat Kohli, eager to contribute to the victory, stood at the forefront alongside his teammates, while a visibly anxious Rohit Sharma occupied a corner. However, relief washed over the players moments later as they erupted into jubilant celebrations when KL Rahul sealed the match with a six, securing a four-wicket triumph in the semifinal against Australia.

India's chase of 264 began precariously, losing their first two wickets for just 43 runs. Yet, a stellar performance from Kohli, who scored 84 runs off 98 balls, combined with significant contributions from the middle-order batsmen—Shreyas Iyer (45), Rahul (42*), and Hardik Pandya (28)—enabled India to surpass the target with 11 balls remaining.

Following the match, the BCCI shared footage from the dressing room captured just before the momentous victory in Dubai. In the video, Kohli appeared in high spirits, contrasting with Rohit's nervous demeanor as Hardik and Rahul built their partnership. However, Hardik's departure came just as India was on the brink of victory. As Ravindra Jadeja descended the stairs, Kohli was heard telling Rohit, "He is going in intending to hit a six."

KL Rahul fulfills Kohli's wish

Rahul ultimately secured the winning run. After returning to the crease in the second-to-last over, the wicketkeeper-batter faced Glenn Maxwell on the first delivery, skillfully sending the ball over long-on for a six.

This remarkable shot prompted an eruption of joy among the Indian players in the dressing room, with Kohli, Mohammed Shami, and Hardik embracing one another. Rohit, finally displaying a smile, was also embraced by Kohli, who later received the Player of the Match award for his performance.

This marked Kohli's 24th fifty-plus score in ICC ODI tournaments, achieved in 53 innings, surpassing the legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who had 23 in 58 innings. At 36 years old, Kohli also became the first player to amass 1,000 runs in knockout matches across all ICC competitions, including the ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, World Test Championship, and Champions Trophy.

Read Also: Gambhir on KL Rahul’s Demotion: "Think About Making the Team Before Your Batting Slot"

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