Virat Kohli powers India into World T20 semifinals with crushing win over Australia

This is what you play cricket for. I'm overwhelmed, says Kohli.

India stormed into the semifinals of the World Twenty20 cricket championship with a crushing victory over Australasia on Sunday.

Virat Kohli's unbeaten 82 led India to a thumping victory over the Aussies, as India unleashed a high adrenalin chase of 161 runs.

Australia were out of the tournament and India will meet West Indies in the last four. India also became the only side to defeat Australia nine times in T20 matches.

Kohli pulled off his lethal game when India needed 20 runs from two overs, leaving skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to hit the winning boundary at the end.

Favorites India were beaten badly by New Zeland in their first match but raced back into the tournament with crucial wins in later stages.

"This is what you play cricket for. I'm overwhelmed," said Kohli, the architect of the victory.

"It was a quarter-final for us, a lot was riding on us playing at home, and with the crowd you want to give them as much entertainment as possible. The positive energy from the people helps push you through."

Captain Dhoni lauded his deputy for the brilliant game he showcased. "Kohli has been playing brilliantly over the last three, four years. Every day when you play a big innings you want to improve and learn and that is what he has done," he said.

India went into the match with semifinal hopes after posting a scintillating one-run victory over Bangladesh in their last fixture while the Aussies improved their chances after they eliminated Pakistan from the T20 World Cup.

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