At Kolkata, March 19, 2016 (floodlit). India won by six wickets. Toss: India.
India beat Pakistan for the 11th time in 11 World Cup matches - in both one-day and Twenty20 cricket - thanks to the classy calm of Kohli. But Pakistan were left to regret a tentative performance with the bat, after Ashwin tied their openers in knots, getting the new ball to jump and turn on a damp surface in a game reduced to 18 overs a side by rain. Ahmed Shehzad and Sharjeel Khan battled through, but their stand of 38 consumed 46 deliveries, prompting Shahid Afridi to move himself up the order again. He struggled too, and only a partnership of 41 in four overs between Umar Akmal and Shoaib Malik lifted Pakistan towards a modest 118. India, in search of a fillip after defeat by New Zealand, began poorly: Mohammad Amir accounted for Rohit Sharma, and the 35-year-old Mohammad Sami cleaned up Dhawan and Raina with successive balls to make it 23 for three. Then came another run-chase masterclass from Kohli. He found admirable support from Yuvraj Singh during a fourth-wicket stand of 61 that first settled nerves, then decisively tilted the scales in India's favour. Dhoni helped do the rest, leaving Kohli - apparently playing on a different surface from everyone else - unbeaten with 55 from 37 balls. India's semi-final quest was back on track.
Man of the Match: V. Kohli.