The India vs Pakistan clash in the 2022 T20 World Cup at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground was nothing short of a cricketing epic. While Virat Kohli’s magical 82* powered India to a thrilling four-wicket victory, it wasn’t just cricket fans who were hooked—tech titan Sundar Pichai was tuned in too.
Following the nail-biting win, Google CEO Sundar Pichai shared his admiration for the match on Twitter, saying:
“Happy Diwali! Hope everyone celebrating has a great time with your friends and family. I celebrated by watching the last three overs again today, what a game and performance.”
Happy Diwali! Hope everyone celebrating has a great time with your friends and family.
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) October 24, 2022I celebrated by watching the last three overs again today, what a game and performance #Diwali #TeamIndia #T20WC2022
But one fan, clearly still feeling the sting of India’s shaky start, cheekily replied, asking Pichai to also watch the “first three overs”—a nod to India’s top-order collapse and initial struggles.
Pichai’s response? Pure gold. In classic desi humor style, he quipped:
“Did that too. That’s when I started praying.”
The reply instantly went viral, sparking laughter across the Twitterverse. Fans were left in splits, applauding Pichai’s relatability and sharp wit.
For context, India was in deep trouble early in the innings, but Kohli’s resilience and flair changed the script completely. With 50 runs needed off the last 3 overs, Kohli’s twin sixes off Haris Rauf in the 19th over brought the required equation down to 16 from 6. After a high-octane final over filled with drama, India sealed the win with Ravi Ashwin calmly lofting the last ball for a boundary.
The match wasn’t just a Diwali gift for Indian fans—it turned into a global celebration of Kohli’s greatness, with Pichai’s hilarious tweet exchange adding a sweet twist to the memory.
Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google and Alphabet, is not just a global tech leader—he’s also a passionate cricket fan. Born and raised in Chennai, India, Pichai grew up watching and playing cricket, like many others across the country. Despite leading one of the biggest tech companies in the world, his love for the sport has remained intact.
Over the years, he has spoken about how cricket taught him valuable lessons in teamwork, leadership, and patience. He often follows major cricket tournaments and even tweets about thrilling matches, including the IPL.
Read more: Google CEO Sundar Pichai fails to understand the mystery behind Washington Sundar’s snub from IPL XI