Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring 82* off 51 balls against Australia
If cricket had to be summed up in two words for the year 2016, it would be: Virat Kohli. This was the year he dominated the game, turning impossible chases into victories for India. One of his most iconic performances came in a must-win clash against Australia in the 2016 T20 World Cup. With India’s tournament hopes hanging by a thread, Kohli once again rose to the occasion, scripting a masterclass in chasing under pressure. Want to relive the unforgettable highlights of this thrilling encounter? Keep reading!
It was the 31st match of the 2016 T20 World Cup, with India facing Australia on March 27 at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. With the pitch already used and dew expected later, the toss was crucial. Australian skipper Steve Smith made the right call and opted to bat first, aiming to put India under pressure with a big total. Openers Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch got Australia off to a flying start. Khawaja signalled his intent immediately, smashing Ashish Nehra for a boundary on the very first ball. In the next over, he took on Jasprit Bumrah, dispatching him for four boundaries in a single over.
The Australian innings gained further momentum in the fourth over when Finch hammered R Ashwin for two sixes, racking up 22 runs off the over. By the end of four overs, Australia was cruising at 53/0, well on track for a massive total. Despite the onslaught, MS Dhoni kept faith in Nehra, and the veteran pacer delivered. In the fifth over, he broke the opening partnership with a well-directed bouncer that forced Khawaja into a mistimed shot, caught behind by Dhoni.
Khawaja departed for a quickfire 26 off 16 balls, and Australia was 55/1. With Finch still at the crease, David Warner joined him, looking to build on the strong start. However, India struck again in the seventh over when Ravindra Jadeja got Warner stumped by Dhoni for just 6 off 9 balls. This wicket put a dent in Australia’s momentum, reducing them to 73/2. India had successfully slowed down Australia’s fiery start, but the battle was far from over.
Now, Steve Smith joined Aaron Finch in the middle, but the Australian skipper had a brief and disappointing stay. In the ninth over, MS Dhoni introduced Yuvraj Singh into the attack, and the part-time spinner made an immediate impact. Yuvraj trapped Smith for just 2 runs off 6 balls, pushing Australia further into trouble at 81/3 by the end of 10 overs. Despite a blazing start, Australia suddenly found itself on the back foot, desperately needing a steady partnership to regain momentum.
Aaron Finch was the key for Australia, holding the innings together with a responsible knock. However, his innings came to an end in the 13th over when he was caught by Shikhar Dhawan for 43 runs off 34 balls. With Finch’s dismissal, Australia was reduced to 100/4, and their innings was in danger of falling apart. With wickets falling regularly, Glenn Maxwell took it upon himself to stabilize the innings. He provided a much-needed boost, taking on Ravindra Jadeja for 15 runs in a single over. But just as he looked set for a strong finish, Jasprit Bumrah cleaned him up for 31 runs off 28 balls in the 17th over. Australia was now at 132/5, struggling to push towards a formidable total.
In the final over, Hardik Pandya dismissed James Faulkner for 10 runs off 10 balls. However, Shane Watson and Peter Nevill ensured Australia finished strongly, smashing 15 runs off the last over. Australia ended at a competitive total of 160/6, with Pandya picking up 2 wickets for 36 runs in his 4 overs. Chasing 161, India opened with Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. The duo started with intent, as Dhawan hit a four on the second ball of the innings. However, in the fourth over, Nathan Coulter-Nile removed Dhawan for 13 runs off 12 balls with a well-directed bouncer, leaving India at 24/1.
With Dhawan gone, Virat Kohli walked in, immediately making his presence felt by striking two consecutive boundaries off Josh Hazlewood. Just when India looked to build momentum, Shane Watson struck in the sixth over, dismissing Rohit Sharma for 12 runs off 17 balls. At the end of the powerplay, India stood at 37/2, with the chase evenly poised. Suresh Raina then joined Kohli at the crease, but his stay was short-lived as Shane Watson struck again, removing Raina for 10 runs off 7 balls.
India now found itself struggling at 50/3 in 8 overs, needing 111 runs from the remaining 12 overs. The situation was getting tough, and India needed a stable partnership to stay in the game. Yuvraj Singh walked in to support Kohli, and the duo began rotating the strike with singles and doubles, keeping the scoreboard moving. However, the required run rate continued to climb, and pressure started to build. In the 12th over, Virat Kohli mistimed a shot, but it had just enough power to clear the ropes for a six.
Despite Kohli’s resilience, India suffered another setback in the 14th over when Yuvraj Singh was dismissed for 21 runs off 18 balls. At the end of 14 overs, India stood at 94/4, still needing 67 runs in the final six overs to keep their hopes alive and secure a place in the semi-finals of the 2016 T20 World Cup. The stage was now set for something special.
With five overs remaining, India needed 59 runs to win. Josh Hazlewood bowled the 16th over with pinpoint accuracy, but Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni made full use of their quick running between the wickets. Their sharp doubles ensured India got 12 runs from the over, keeping the chase alive. In the 17th over, Virat Kohli brought up his half-century off 39 balls, displaying immense composure under pressure. Despite Australia’s tight bowling, India managed to collect 8 runs from the over, reducing the equation to 39 needed off 18 balls.
With the match hanging in the balance, James Faulkner came on to bowl the 18th over. That’s when Kohli decided to take charge. He smashed Faulkner for two boundaries and a massive six in the first three balls, turning the tide in India’s favour as the over yielded 19 runs. With just 20 runs needed off the final two overs, Steve Smith turned to Nathan Coulter-Nile in an attempt to keep Australia in the contest. However, Kohli was in a different zone altogether. He played a masterclass in T20 batting, striking four elegant boundaries in the over.
India took 16 runs off it, making the result inevitable. The Australians had no answers to Kohli’s brilliance. Needing just 4 runs from the final over, MS Dhoni finished it off in style by smashing a boundary off James Faulkner towards wide long-on, sealing a 6-wicket victory for India. As soon as the winning runs were hit, Kohli erupted in celebration, embracing his captain. He had just played one of the greatest knocks in T20 history, guiding India into the semi-finals with an unforgettable chase.