India went through one of the worst phases of all time in cricket in 2022, right from not playing Asia Cup 2022 finals to a humiliating exit from the 20-20 World Cup 2022 in the semi-finals against England. From injury concerns to batting order shuffling, the Indian team were rocked with concerns right throughout the year.
However, this did not stop the team from putting on their best and there were moments to cherish from the year as well. India’s emphatic win against Pakistan in the 20-20 World Cup 2022 would come as a perfect example of the same. We decided to handpick five best moments for Indian cricket from the year, with the next series set to start on January 3rd, 2023.
Here are the five best moments for Indian cricket in 2022:
5) Jasprit Bumrah - Most runs in an over in Tests
With the fifth Test of India’s tour to England in 2021 being postponed, the team faced off in the final Test this year, earlier in July. While one has to agree that the Indian team lost the match on the back of poor performance in the second innings, there was a moment to cherish from the first innings.
To add more, Jasprit Bumrah, India’s prime Test bowler scored 29 runs in an over off Stuart Broad and created history. A total of 35 runs came in that over, including five wides and a no-ball, with the remaining coming off Bumrah’s bat. The pacer tops the list of batters with the most runs in an over in Test cricket, overtaking Brian Lara’s record of 28 runs.
4) Virat Kohli’s T20I century
Virat Kohli is known for his ability to convert the 50s into 100s in ODI and Tests and the batter has been scoring consistently in the formats, barring the last couple of years where he has been rusty. After a wait of over two years, Kohli ended his century drought in the Asia Cup 2022 as he crushed Afghanistan to score his 71st international hundred.
To add more, Kohli’s 71st century came as a surprise as it came in the least expected format, the T20Is, which was eventually admitted by the batter himself post the conclusion of the match. This remains to be one of the best moments of 2022 and will remain for all times to come.
3) India vs Pakistan, 20-20 World Cup 2022
India and Pakistan faced off in their campaign opener of the recently concluded 20-20 World Cup 2022, which the Jos Buttler-led England team won after crushing the Pakistani team in the summit clash at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
However, the first match between the Men in Blue and Pakistan became the pinnacle of the tournament as Virat Kohli stood up for the team, scoring an unbeaten 82, helping the team to breach the 160-run target, given that India were reeling at 31/4. This remains the best match of 2022 for team India and it was one of the best moments of Kohli’s chase masterclass.
2) Ishan Kishan’s 200 vs Bangladesh
After losing the first two ODIs against Bangladesh in the three-match series in December, the two teams locked horns in the third ODI on December 10 and it turned out to be Ishan Kishan’s best outing for Men in Blue in his international career so far.
To add more, batting first, the Indian team put on 409 runs on the board at the end of 50 overs, with Kishan scoring a mighty 210, smashing the fastest double century of 126 balls. Much to the delight of the Indian fans, Virat Kohli scored his 72nd international hundred and it was India who won the match by 227 runs.
1) India vs Bangladesh, 2nd Test
India vs Bangladesh faced off in the second Test that kicked off on December 22 and it was the Indian team who came out on top on the back of Ravichandran Ashwin’s heroics. To add more, chasing a target of 145, Ashwin scored an unbeaten 42, given that India were restricted to 74/7.
Mehidy Hasan, the Bangla Tigers star off-break bowler, picked up a five-for and the Indian team stared at a possible defeat mid-way. Much to the delight of the fans, Shreyas Iyer played a handy knock of 29, helping India clinch off a famous win and end the year on a high.