Virat Kohli magic sees India knock out Australia to reach Twenty20 World Cup semi-final against West Indies
India qualified for the World Twenty20 semi-finals and knocked out Australia after Virat Kohli smashed a brilliant unbeaten 82 in their do-or-die showdown in Mohali on Sunday.
Kohli’s powerful 51-ball knock propelled India to a six-wicket victory, successfully chasing down Australia’s 160-6 total and keeping their World T20 title dreams alive.
India now face the West Indies in a semi-final encounter in Mumbai on Thursday, despite the Caribbean side suffering their first loss at this tournament to underdogs Afghanistan earlier on Sunday.
This innings has to be in my top three, perhaps the top right now because I’m a bit emotional
England play New Zealand in the other semi-final in New Delhi on Wednesday, before the final showdown at Calcutta’s Eden Gardens on Sunday.
India, who won the inaugural tournament in 2007, are gunning to become the first nation to clinch the title twice and the first ever on home soil.
Australia’s hopes of winning their first World T20 trophy are once again in tatters, with the top-ranked test side now bowing out of the tournament.
Chasing Australia’s challenging total, India had looked down and out at 94 for four but Kohli and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (18 not out) put on 67 runs to take the team to the finish line.