Virat Kohli produced yet another
masterclass as he smashed an unbeaten 47-ball 89 to guide India to a challenging 192 for two against West Indies in the second semifinal of the ICC World Twenty20 here today.
Kohli, who masterminded India's entry into the semifinals with a brilliant 82 not out against Australia at Mohali in their last Super 10 game, was in his element as he struck 11 fours and a six to help India take advantage of a fine start given by Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane.
India, sent into bat, were off to a sound beginning as their new opening combination of Sharma (43 in 31 balls) and Rahane (40 in 35 balls) put on 62 runs.
Rahane and Kohli then added 66 runs for the second wicket before the latter and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (15 not out) put on 64 in 27 balls for the unfinished third wicket to give the West Indies a challenging total to chase.
Sharma, who came into the game with scores of 5, 10, 18 and 12 in the Super 10 phase, exploded into action after playing out a couple of quiet overs.
He struck medium pacer Carlos Brathwaite over long-on for a six, the first boundary of the match, and then cover-drove and swept Sulieman Benn for successive fours.
The last over of power play brought out the best in terms of runs and power-hitting from the Mumbai batsman, raising the first half century partnership for the opening wicket in the process, by carting Andre Russell for sixes off successive deliveries.
He later pulled the West Indian pacer for a four too as 20 runs came in the over and the total rocketed to 55 at the end of power play.
Sharma departed as he was looking good for his first fifty of event and his first in last eight T20 Internationals, trapped leg before after being unable to read Samuel Badree's googly. His innings included 3 sixes and as many fours.
A huge ovation from the packed stadium, like what retired great Sachin Tendulkar - seated inside the stadium - used to receive, greeted in-form batsman Kohli when he walked in.
He could have been run-out twice off the same ball in the 9th over when setting off for a non-existent single. But the throw by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdhin first and then by bowler Dwayne Bravo as the batsman tried to scamper back to the crease missed the stumps at the striker's end.
Later, he top edged to the third man fence in the same over before settling down to his normal attractive play.
At the half-way stage of the innings, India's score had advanced to 86 for one, with Rahane, given his first game in the tournament and his 18th overall, having upped his gear a bit after a sedate start.
