On this day, March 27, 2016: Virat Kohli's masterclass against Australia in World T20

Star India batsman powers hosts into semi-final with unbeaten fifty

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If Virat Kohli is the master of white-ball batting, then he is the undisputed king when it comes to chasing.

That is hardly news for most cricket fans but it is still incredible to see it unfold.

Fans got yet another glimpse of those legendary skills on this day against Australia during the 2016 World T20.

What was at stake was a spot in the semi-final, and for a substantial part of the match in Mohali, Australia looked in control.

Batting first on an unusually sticky surface, Australia posted a decent total of 160-6, Aaron Finch top-scoring with 43 with contributions from everyone apart from David Warner and captain Steve Smith.

As India’s chase started, it became clear this was going to be far from simple.

Openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan could not take the run rate past six an over. As has been the case on many occasions for India in the second innings, it was up to Kohli to get the job done.

Despite spinners and seamers getting the ball to stick on the surface, Kohli used his wrists to great effect to alter his strokes mid-shot.

When Yuvraj Singh was deceived by left-arm seamer James Faulkner for 21, India were 94-4 after 14 overs and with their backs to the wall.

Kohli knew he had to take charge and he did so in the 18th over of the innings bowled by Faulkner.

He despatched the first two balls for four before he pulled off the shot of the match, chipping a slower ball down the ground for a six despite being beaten in his shot.

In the 19th over bowled by Nathan Coulter-Nile, Kohli hit four boundaries in five balls to take his side to the finish line. With just four needed from the last over, Dhoni completed the job as Kohli remained unbeaten on 82 off just 51 balls when everyone else struggled to score at run a ball.

It was a masterclass in how to construct a chase on a difficult pitch against a strong opposition.

After the match, Australia captain Smith said the innings by Kohli was truly exceptional.

"That was a pretty serious innings there, under pressure," Smith said. "He hit it right out of the middle and he's done it for a long time. Virat played an unbelievable knock. I think 160 was around par, it just took an unbelievable innings to get India over the line."

India thus made it to the semi-final where they lost to eventual champions West Indies in Mumbai.