Virat Kohli has lifted India to a dramatic six-wicket win over Australia, ending Steve Smith’s hopes of breakthrough success at the sixth edition of the World Twenty20.
The pool clash was essentially a quarter-final, with the winners facing West Indies in Thursday’s semi-final at Mumbai and the losers eliminated from the tournament.
Australia, bidding for their maiden T20 title, posted a total of 6-160 after another middle-overs slump at Mohali.
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» Australia vs India: ICC Worldd T20 full scorecard
The chase was far from comfortable, with India requiring 39 runs from the final three overs.
Kohli reduced that equation to 20 off the final two after belting James Faulkner all over the park.
The gifted batsman attacked Nathan Coulter-Nile with similar success, finishing 82 not out as the tournament favourites hauled in the target with five balls remaining.
“This innings has to be in my top three, perhaps the top right now because I’m a bit emotional,” Kohli said.
Shane Watson starred in the topsy-turvy tussle, winding the clock back in his final game for Australia.
Watson removed Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina in a haul of 2-23, while he claimed a scrambling one-handed catch to dismiss hobbled veteran Yuvraj Singh.
But Australia couldn’t break the partnership that mattered most, with Kohli sinking to his knees after MS Dhoni struck the winning runs.
Kohli nailed the tricky run-chase as teammates succumb to fine bowling and immense pressure.
The 27-year-old seems to save his best for Australia and this dig was no exception, he rowed with Glenn Maxwell after taking exception with a return but never lost his cool.
Kohli picked gaps no matter what fields Smith set, turned ones into twos and stroked 11 boundaries in a marvellous man-of-the-match effort.
No shortage of questions will be asked in the postmortem after another failed shot at T20 glory from Australia, with shot selections and selectors’ selections to be forensically analysed.
They were denied by a superstar who averages 122.83 in successful T20 chases for India but Smith will be stroppy his side failed to set a more imposing target.
Australia were unable to keep the scoreboard ticking over from overs five to 14.
Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch blitzed the opening stanza, bringing up their 50-run partnership in just 3.4 overs after Smith won the toss and named an unchanged XI.
Momentum shifted dramatically after Khawaja was caught behind on 26, driving at a delivery from Ashish Nehra that nipped away from him.
David Warner, Smith and Finch, who top-scored with 43, all fell in a slump of 3-28 as India raced through their overs and dried up the boundaries.
After the opening four-over onslaught, Australia managed just 4-51 from their next 10 overs.
It wasn’t without controversy.
Smith was clearly furious and lingered at the crease after being judged caught behind on two by umpire Marais Erasmus.
Replays showed there was a gap between Smith’s blade and Singh’s first delivery of the tournament.
Watson and Peter Nevill hammered 15 runs off the final over of Australia’s innings to give their side hope but Kohli was simply too good.
TC123
Guest
You don't take it seriously. Really? Why even turn up
TC123
Guest
No actually I'm just enjoying your disappointment
Riccardo
Guest
Not just when they retire Dave. Tana - the only respect Mitch showed in his tweet was a lack of invective. It was a sledge plain and simple. And it's that sort of chest-beating along with Australia's formidable reputation that makes other teams and their fans enjoy their departure. Sorry. You have to wonder though, had Starc been fit, had the selectors sent Lyons and had Smith/Boof leant more to on a spin-bowling plan, whether they would even have been in this do or die position. Anyway, I see Pietersen has written off the Black Caps in similar fashion although England do look in good form. Can only hope he gets to wear facial egg as a Black Caps supporter. And Ashton. Possibly not the best time to be suggesting that Kohli, who averages 88 in this format, is over-rated. Pretty sure he just put a decent Australian Team to the sword.
Jacob
Guest
Well guys after reading your comments it seems the umpires are first cousins to the money bag holders and the Australian Cricket Team is somewhat ordinary and not a relative of the money team, now, are they (Aust,) on the wrong side of the Umpires and playes, (opposition) as well, which includes the money team. Well what a load of crap, what is wrong in the Australian camp is the selectors, and players of the Australian Cricket team, they played terrible in their last game, and all throughout this series i felt "bad moon rising", too many players with too much money looking after them selves for upcoming $ games, certain players who cant play with injuries, once again the $ games too come, let's look to the days of Lillee and Thommo these guys and the team played with injuries ten times worse than this wobbly mob we have today, not tuff enough guys, UNAUSTRALIAN...
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Aus does NOT choke. Not in our DNA.
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
@Bamboo And what exactly is wrong with chanting “oi oi oi!” at games? Harmless fun mate.
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Two wrongs don't make a right Handles.
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Kohli is a GUN when the wicket is slow or flat. On bouncy/pacy wickets he struggles. People need to understand Johnson has earned the right to make those kind of comments. And I thought he was pretty respectful.
Rory
Guest
Yes, were starved of cricket success - got the ashes and an away test series win in SA in the bank
anon
Guest
Have the Australian summer, but cut it to a 1-2 tests, 2-3 ODI's, longer domestic T20 season and maybe a T20 international tri-series. Have the one month World Cup annually.
Ross Fleming
Roar Rookie
Guys Smith did well as captain, the way Kohli was batting it wouldn't have mattered who we bought on except for Starc and we didn't have him. Lack of preparation cost us the world cup as we should have started preparation when we play 3 t20 matches against India in Australia but we rested their kye players pick lots of players play them end of the day that experiment fails they rested their key players because they wants to win test series against newziland. Positives are that we at least unravelled Zampa and Khawaja as they both did well for us. Now the real challenge will be to stay number in ODIs and Test cricket
baz
Guest
Watched the game where Faulkner got the 5 against Pakistan and they didn't handle his slower ball India do so he Dont do so well against them
SP
Guest
You're crowing about reaching the semi final of a t20 tournament? Starved of cricket success?
Bamboo
Guest
James its fans like you that make sporting fans despise Australian teams across all sports and take such satisfaction in an Australia loss. I'm guessing you like to chant "oi oi oi!" at games? You're coming across as the Phil Kearns of cricket. You lost, deal with it.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
For a team with very high standards the T20 World Cup performance by Australia was a fail. Lets hope that Smith and the selectors learn something from it.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Can't argue with that
Dave
Guest
The 4 highest ranked teams have made the semi-finals. That's how the script goes!
Ross Fleming
Roar Rookie
Good comments Ronan, the death bowling really needs to improve and we were simply out played by Kohli and it wasn't smith's fault or anyones fault. that. This result with India chasing, however, was to be expected, after seeing the T20Is that India played in Aus. at the start of the year. The Indian team have got the idea of this format and Aus. is still getting its head around it. I can see that Kohli's unconventional but highly effective shot making prove that he is actually in a different league. - he is the best batsman in T20I. For us Zampa did well with the bowl and is our future spinner in all formats, khawaja was our leading run scorer and continues to impress and his fast start yesterday was wasted. NCN and Faulkner were disappointing yesterday
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Only number one in tests and ODI. I think there might be a few countries who would love to be in that position.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Do you actually know what choked means Jacko? Its when somehow you manage to lose from a position where you don't look like losing. I don't think the Aussies were that much in control that they let it slip in the end. Kohli just batted too well against some steady but not very penetrative bowling.