Player of the Match
Player of the Match
2090dThe Report by Brydon Coverdale

Magical Kohli steers India into semi-finals

Virat Kohli made an unbeaten 82 off 51 balls, which helped India progress to the semi-final, against West Indies, and ended Australia World T20 campaign, and the international career of Shane Watson

Match Centre

Statistics

Best performances - Batsmen

V Kohli
V Kohli
82(51) 9x4 - 2x6
Control %84%
  • Productive Shot
  • flick
  • 20 runs
  • 1x4 - 0x6
2 5 4 12 15 15 4 25
AJ Finch
AJ Finch
43(34) 3x4 - 2x6
Control %68%
  • Productive Shot
  • on drive
  • 16 runs
  • 0x4 - 2x6
2 0 5 1 8 3 18 6

Best performances - Bowlers

SR Watson
SR Watson
O4
M0
R23
W2
Eco5.75
RHB
OFFLEG
1W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
1W
HH Pandya
HH Pandya
O4
M0
R36
W2
Eco9.00
RHB
OFFLEG
1W
1W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH

Scorer: Sofri D Chandan | Commentator: George Binoy

10.58 pm They are still chanting his name in the stands, I can hear fireworks go off outside my window. India are in the semi-finals and will play West Indies, the only team from the subcontinent to make it to the final four. And it is all thanks to Kohli. Did Smith make a mistake giving Kohli the chase? He is a surreal performer when faced with a target.

Paras: "DHONI hitting the winning run CHECK CHECK CHECK"

Kohli is the man of the match: "I would like to thank the crowd, it was unbelieveable, the support helps you push through those tough times. You need challenges in every game, they improve you as a cricketers. I don't know what to say, I am overwhelmed by 
 Yuvi had a good partnership and then MS kept me calm 
 We have always run well, we have an understanding, that's why you train in the gym, you have those fitness regimes, that paid off today. This innings has to be in my top three, perhaps the top right now because I'm a bit emotional."

Hasan: "Spare a thought for Watson. He bowled superbly today to try prolong his and his teams chances. Sad end to a career." Watson indeed played well today, bowled his heart out. His team-mates were just not good enough against a quite incredible batsman.

Mahela Jayawardene, Ian Chappell and Ajit Agarkar are on our Match Day show to analyse this game. Watch it here.

Aj: "So, Virat made it sure that its Watson's last international T20 match! Ecstatic for Virat, feeling sad for Watson! Both are gems..."

Mounika: "While its great India has won, it is also very worrying that none of the other batsmen are stepping up. But as long as that man Kohli is on the field, no worries"

Aniket: "Excellent Innings from Kohli! Whattt a chase!!! Marvellous, superlative, brilliant!!! No adjectives are enough to describe this innings! A word of thought for Yuvraj, what a fighter he is. stuck in there so that Kohli and Dhoni can take it from there on! N Dhoni does what he does!"

Tariq: "@ Kohli: Its unfair with other teams to have a man of this class playing against you. The guy is a one-man batting lineup. Massive massive respect!!"

Dhoni: "It was a tough score, they got 60 runs in the first six overs ... the middle overs were tough, it was difficult to hit the ball from back of a length, especially against the spinners ... we felt if we run well in the middle overs we had a chance ... It's not the first time I've enjoyed it, he's been playing brilliantly or the last few years, he has kept improving his game, he is very hungry to score runs for the team. the others have to step up now, can't keep relying on him, the others are contributing but we need to step up ... Running is a key aspect in modern cricket, if you can take singles against the best fielders, or make a single into the double, the lesser fielders get under pressure ... more than endurance you need explosive power, because there is ample time for rest."

Smith: "That was a pretty serious innings there, under pressure. He hit it right out of the middle and he's done it for a long time. Virat played an unbelievable knock ... I think 160 was around par, it just took an unbelievable innings to get India over the line."

Reyansh: "From Jason Gillespie: "It's not Chuck Norris quotes anymore........""

Right, I'm breathless. And I'm going to leave you all to soak this in, and I will do the same. We have seen a truly great performance tonight. We had seen one against Pakistan in Kolkata and Mirpur too. Virat Kohli's chases will soon be in danger of being taken for granted. Thank you for all your emails today, and thank you for reading. Good night.

19.1
4
Faulkner to Dhoni, FOUR, that's the game! Dhoni has finished it with five balls to spare. Kohli sinks to the ground as the low full toss disappears to the wide long-on boundary. What a performance from the man, I can see relief on Kohli's face, he looks exhausted, he has pulled off a jaw-dropping chase. Again.

Joseph: "Australia's complete lack of quality spinners has finally come home to roost in this game. They should have had this utterly in the bag, but this dreadful bowling at the death has cost them." And Kohli.

Nikhil: "Kohli makes every run chase look like the best run chase of his career. It's surreal. What a cricketer! The temperatent reminds me of Dravid in Tests. Absolutely determined. "

Shashank: "Let's just say this, he is the best around in the world and when chasing I wonder if there is anyone on other planets that can come any close to this man. Oh Kohli! Oh Kohli !"

END OF OVER:
19 | 16 Runs | IND: 157/4 (4 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 8.26, RRR: 4.00)

  • Virat Kohli82 (51b)
  • MS Dhoni14 (9b)
  • Nathan Coulter-Nile4-0-33-1
  • James Faulkner3-0-31-1
18.6
4
Coulter-Nile to Kohli, FOUR, in the slot for the cover drive, full and outside off, that's food and drink for Kohli, he unfurls his favourite shot, that drive and it is too good for every man on the field, he has bossed this chase and how
18.5
0
Coulter-Nile to Kohli, no run, Kohli steps out and swings across the line, beaten by a slower short of a length ball
18.4
4
Coulter-Nile to Kohli, FOUR, Kohli is toying with the bowling and the field, he steps out, to a length ball and lofts on the up flat over extra cover, this is batting of the highest calibre, this game is all but done, or is it? India need a run a ball
18.3
4
Coulter-Nile to Kohli, FOUR, short ball on leg stump, Kohli is too good to miss out, fine leg is in the circle, Kohli pulls, and beats the fielder in the circle
18.2
4
Coulter-Nile to Kohli, FOUR, a half volley outside off stump, Kohli stays so balanced, so still in his crease, uses his wrists to open the face of the bat and square drive through point, superb knowledge of where the field is

hadi: "I hate to say this but I'm beginning to put Kohli ahead of AB. What a master."

  • Virat Kohli assault guides India to Semi-finals

    A 51-ball 82 from Virat Kohli, helped India qualify for the Semi-Finals of the World T20, as they beat Australia by six wickets, with five balls to spare in Mohali on Sunday.

  • 'Emotional' Kohli rates Mohali knock his best

    An emotional Virat Kohli called his unbeaten, match-winning, World T20 semi-final spot sealing 82 off 51 balls as his best innings in the format

  • Dhoni hails Kohli's 'incredible innings'

    India captain MS Dhoni called Virat Kohli's unbeaten 82 an "incredible innings" after he had helped his team into the World T20 semi-finals with a six-wicket win over Australia

  • Watson skips into T20 retirement

    Shane Watson skipped from the field when he imagined Australia had won and there was still a spring in his step after Virat Kohli ensured that his T20 career ended two games earlier than he wanted

  • 'Let ourselves down in middle overs' - Smith

    Steven Smith pointed the finger squarely at Australia's batting through the middle overs, as he has done throughout the tournament, as the key impediment to T20 success

The chase master

122.83

Kohli's average in successful run-chases in T20Is, at a SR of 131: in 15 inngs he has scored 737 runs with 9 not-outs

India on top

6

Consecutive T20I victories for India versus Australia

Kohli v Australia

53.16

Kohli's T20I average v Australia, in 8 innings before today's game. In chases, his average is only 33 from 4 innings

Advantage Australia

16

The difference in runs scored at the halfway stage - Australia were 81 for 3 after 10, compared to India's 65 for 3

Australia's slowdown

51

Runs scored by Australia in ten overs from the 5th to the 14th, after scoring 53 in the first four. They scored 56 in the last six

Flying start

53

Australia's score after 4 overs, their 2nd highest in a T20I; their highest is 55, v WI in Sydney, 2010

Costly Ashwin

22

Runs conceded by Ashwin in his first over, his second highest in a T20I; his worst is 24, v Aus in Rajkot, 2013

To bat first or chase?

6-7

Win-loss record for teams batting first in Mohali, in the last three IPL seasons

Australia's nemesis

8

Number of T20I matches Australia have lost v India. It's their most losses v any team, and India's most wins v an opponent

ICC Men's T20 World Cup

Super 10 Group 1
TeamMWLPTNRR
WI43160.359
ENG43160.145
SA42240.651
SL4132-0.461
AFG4132-0.715
Super 10 Group 2
TeamMWLPTNRR
NZ44081.9
IND4316-0.305
AUS42240.233
PAK4132-0.093
BAN4040-1.805
First Round Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
BAN32051.938
NED31130.154
OMA3113-1.521
IRE3021-0.685
First Round Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
AFG33061.54
ZIM3214-0.567
SCOT3122-0.132
HKG3030-1.017