STAR'S KOHLI STARS* : T20 WORLD CUP

 

Melbourne : ' Kohli's innings one of India's greatest. ' Skipper Sharma praises veteran batter for incredible rescue act against Pakistan.

Skipper Rohit Sharma ranked Virat Kohli's match-winning exploits against Pakistan as not just his best-ever innings but one of the greatest in Indian cricket history, with the superstar batsman admitting he had never experienced such emotion.

Former captain Kohli lit up the T20 World Cup on Sunday with an unbeaten 82 that steered his team to an incredible last-ball win in front of 90,000 fervent drum beating fans at a pumping Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Kohli was in tears at the end, overcome by the occasion, with Sharma hailing his cool head.

'' Definitely his best for sure, but I think from the situation we were in, and to come out with a victory, I think it has to be one of India's best knocks, '' said Sharma of Kohli's 53-ball effort.

'' Because until the 13th over we were so behind the game, and the required rate was just climbing up and up. ''

''But to come out and chase that score was an extremely brilliant effort from Virat, and then obviously Hardik [Pandya] played a role there as well.''

India's task looked almost impossible when they were 45-4 at the halfway point of their chase of 160 to win.

But Kohli and Pandya put on a century stand to keep hopes alive though India still needed 28 from the last eight balls.

Kohli then smacked two huge sixes of Harris Rauf, one an extraordinary drive straight back over the bowler's head, to reduce the chase to 16 off the final over.

It was bowled by Mohammed Nawaz and turned out to be one of the most remarkable overs seen in cricket with two wickets, two wides, a no ball, a six and high drama as the atmosphere hit fever pitch and the noise became deafening.

First Pandya's attempted slog was caught at cover before a single from Dinesh Karthik put Kohli back on strike.

India still needed 15 off four balls, which Kohli reduced to 13 off three with two to long on before chaotic conclusion.

Kohli smashed a full toss - which was called a no-ball - for six leaving six to win off three balls. Kohli on strike with a free-hit.

Nawaz bowled a wide, meaning the next ball was still a free-hit. Kohli was bowled but still managed to scamper for three byes as the ball ricocheted off the stumps.

Karthik, back on strike, was stumped down the legside leaving Ashwin to face the final ball with two still needed.

Nawaz went legside for another wide before Ashwin chipped the winning run off the final ball to end an over - and a match- that had it all. [AFP]