Virat Kohli has almost singlehandedly guided hosts India into the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 cricket tournament, at Australia’s expense.
The Indians won by six wickets with five balls remaining at Mohali, finishing on 161 for four as they chased down Australia’s 160 for six.
Man of the match Kohli’s huge knock of 82 off 51 balls – including four fours off the penultimate over – took the required run rate down from more than 10 an over to just four from the final over.
Captain MS Dhoni struck the winning runs off the first ball of the 20th over.
The final World Twenty20 Super 10 match served as a knockout match to secure a place in the last four versus the West Indies, and the Australians looked to be in the box seat.
Their captain Steve Smith won the toss and opted to bat, and a decent total of 160 for six at the IS Bindra Stadium seemed more than enough with the Indians 94 for four after 14 overs when Dhoni joined Kohli at the crease.
Hosts India, inaugural World T20 champions in 2007, and reigning 50-over champions Australia had won two matches each in Group Two with their only loss against New Zealand, who already reached the semi-finals where they face England on Thursday morning in Delhi.
Australia, who failed to win the World Twenty20 title in its previous five editions, were unchanged from the team that beat Pakistan in their last match.