T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli revives India by flooring Pakistan
Star man: Virat Kohli. Photo: AP
Virat Kohli shrugged off the pressure that always surrounds an India-Pakistan match to secure a campaign-reviving six-wicket victory for the host nation in the World Twenty20 on Saturday.
The 27-year-old made batting look ridiculously easy on a difficult track and his scintillating unbeaten 55 was the difference between the sides in a rain-hit game reduced to 18 overs per team.
India, chasing a target of 119 after losing their opening match to New Zealand, slumped to 23 for three in the fifth over before Kohli and Yuvraj Singh (24) shared a match-high 61-run partnership to steady things at Eden Gardens.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed a six to level the scores and then took a single to seal victory with 13 balls to spare as India maintained an unbeaten World Cup record against their arch-rivals.
Kohli, who embellished his 37-ball knock with seven fours and a six, said he enjoyed the challenge of batting on a tricky wicket in a low-scoring contest.
"That's what you need, a little testing wicket, a good bowling attack and you pulling the team out of trouble," Kohli added.
"I think that's what gives you great pleasure as a cricketer," he said after entertaining a 61,000-plus crowd that turned up for the tournament's most-anticipated contest.
Reuters
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