India beat their arch-rival Pakistan in a nail-biting match of ongoing world cup t20 at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli turned back the clock with a brilliant individual knock of 82 from just 53 deliveries that saved the day for India.
Kohli came to the crease in the second over after opener KL Rahul (4) was undone by Pakistani pacer Naseem Shah and things looked forlorn for India when they when a fired-up Haris Rauf reduced them to 31/3 after the batting Powerplay.
But Kohli kept his nerve and, just like he has done so many times previously, expertly guided India home in front of a crowd in excess of 90,000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
India never looked like winning it, but with Kohli and Hardik Pandya at the crease there was always an outside chance they could pull a rabbit out of the hat.
There was 31 needed from the last two overs and Kohli hit Rauf for two massive sixes on the final two deliveries of the penultimate over to make the equation 16 the final six balls.
Pandya fell on the first delivery of the final over, before Kohli put Mohammad Nawaz into the stands off a waist high full toss to make it six runs required from the final three deliveries to pull off the unlikely win.
Kohli was bowled on the ensuing delivery, but given it was a free hit India scrambled three byes to leave them in the box seat with just two needed from the final two balls.
Karthik was stumped on the second last delivery to give Pakistan hope, but Ravi Ashwin came to the crease to find the boundary with the final ball of the math to clinch a thriller for India.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
