India beat Australia by six wickets in Mohali, reach semis

WATCH: Virat Kohli powers India home

As it happened!

2255 hrs IST: MS Dhoni finishes with a four! India win and it was Virat Kohli’s 51 ball 82 that lead India. Spot in the semi-finals

2253 hrs IST: India need 4 off 6 balls

2252 hrs IST: Virat Kohli is just magnificent! He has sent the last ball to the covers boundary. Easy as you like

2252 hrs IST: India need 8 runs off the 7 balls. MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli at the crease

2251 hrs IST: Virat Kohli has done that again. Four again

2250 hrs IST: Consecutive fours again for Kohli

2246 hrs IST: India take 19 off the 18th over. Need 20 off the last two

2243 hrs IST: Virat Kohli mistimes but it still travels to long-off boundary for a six

2242 hrs IST: Consecutive boundaries for Virat Kohli. One through the square-leg and the other past point

2240 hrs IST: MS Dhoni gets an outside edge and India get four runs. Last three overs reamain and they need 39 off them

2237 hrs IST: Virat Kohli has hit a 39-ball fifty. But he doesn’t celebrate. He knows the job is not done

2235 hrs IST: Virat Kohli takes 12 runs off the 16th over and India now need 47 off 24 balls

2230 hrs IST: 15 overs done and India need 59 off the last 30 balls with six wickets in hand

2229 hrs IST: MS Dhoni pulls one and it beats the fine-leg fielder for a four

2226 hrs IST: MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli at the crease for India

2226 hrs IST: India need 67 runs off 36 balls

2222 hrs IST: WICKET! Yuvraj Singh checks his shot at the last moment and lobs it to cover. Shane Watson takes a superb diving catch

2218 hrs IST: Full-toss off Adam Zampa to Yuvraj Singh, who dispatches it for a SIX

2216 hrs IST: India reach 80/3 after 12 overs. Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli steady India. Need 81 off the last 48 balls

2215 hrs IST: And then he takes a two. Yuvraj Singh putting in the effort

2215 hrs IST: Virat Kohli takes on Maxwell and sends it over long-off. Mistimed but still a six

2208 hrs IST: SIX coming from Maxwell’s first, India 65/3 at the half-way mark. Need another 96 from the last ten overs, seven wickets in hand

2206 hrs IST: Spin! Glenn Maxwell into the attack now

2200 hrs IST: Yuvraj is not comfortable in the middle. On the ground again and is getting his ankle strapped. India 59/3 after nine overs

2157 hrs IST: Yuvraj is on the ground. Seems like he has pulled a muscle while turning the short delivery away for a single

2153 hrs IST: Yuvraj Singh is the new man in and he is off the mark with a single. FIFTY up for India in the eighth over of the innings. Australia reached there as early as their fourth over

2150 hrs IST: WICKET! Short, Raina goes for the pull but manages a glove to Nevill behind the stumps. India 49/3

2145 hrs IST: Suresh Raina is the new man in. India need a steady stand now. 37/2 at the end of powerplay

Terrible by @ImRo45 !! Anyway can anyone send me videos of @imVkohli as a teenager batting #unreal best timer of a cricket ball I hv seen

— Brian Lara (@BrianLara) 27 March 2016

2142 hrs IST: WICKET! Watson cleans up Rohit Sharma, who was struggling in the middle. India 37/2 in the sixth over

2140 hrs IST: Shane Watson into the attack now. He has this habit of breaking partnerships and picking wickets. Australia would want him to play a similar role today

One through mid-wicket, one past point. @imVkohli looking good. So far!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) 27 March 2016

2139 hrs IST: FOUR! This time on the other side of the wicket, but similar result for Kohli. Consecutive boundaries

2138 hrs IST: FOUR! Hazlewood strays on Kohli’s pads and the right-hander flicks it to the ropes for a boundary. Off  the mark in style

2135 hrs IST: Virat Kohli joins Rohit Sharma in the middle

2134 hrs IST: WICKET! Dhawan miscues the pull and is out caught. Coulter-Nile gives Australia early success

2132 hrs IST: Goes with a similar shot, but fails to get hold of it on this occasion

2131 hrs IST: FOUR! Short and Rohit pulls it away to the ropes

2129 hrs IST: SIX! Dhawan picks one in style off his pads and hits it all the way for a maximum

2122 hrs IST: Nathan Coulter-Nile to share the new ball with Hazlewood. India 7/0 after the first over

2120 hrs IST: FOUR! Dhawan creams one through covers, and he’s away with a boundary

2115 hrs IST: Australia in a huddle. India openers make their way out. Rohit and Dhawan would like to get some runs under their belt today

2058 hrs IST: SIX! Nevill ends the innings in style – with a hit over the fence. Australia touch the 160-run mark. India would now need 161 to win this game

2056 hrs IST: FOUR! Nevill uses the depth of the crease, gets across his stumps and scoops it over short fine for a boundary

2054 hrs IST: FOUR! Outside edge and it races to the ropes. Much needed boundary for Australia. No matter how they come, they won’t mind the runs at this stage

2052 hrs IST: WICKET! Faulkner mistimes the Pandya delivery to Kohli, who makes no mistake in the deep. 145/6

2051 hrs IST: Bumrah concedes nine from the 19th – his last. Conceded an early boundary but did well to go for only singles in last five deliveries. Australia 145/5

2047 hrs IST: Nehra concedes just four from his fourth. Australia 136/5 after 18

2046 hrs IST: Ashish Nehra to bowl a crucial 18th over. He bowled a fine opening spell, important he finishes well here

This is the kinda of pitch that’s ideal for #Ind some turn but not too much. Good pitch to bat but not too flat. #DimagSay #IndvsAus #Bing

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) 27 March 2016

2042 hrs IST: Three to play, Australia 132/5. Watson and Faulkner in the middle for the Aussies

2038 hrs IST: WICKET! Clever change of pace by Bumrah and he cleans up the dangerous Maxwell. Australia 130/5

Big, big wicket that of Maxwell. He would have taken the game away from Ind. Superb delivery from Bumrah to get rid of a real danger man.

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) 27 March 2016

2037 hrs IST: SIX! Switch-hit from Maxwell and it goes all the way. Australia end the over well. 129/4 after 16

2036 hrs IST: FOUR! Jadeja drifts on Maxwell’s pads and the right-hander sweeps it fine for a boundary

2034 hrs IST: Time for the last five overs now. Australia need some fireworks to end well here

2031 hrs IST: Pandya is yet to pitch a delivery up in his three-over spell so far. Sticking to the short-ball strategy

2029 hrs IST: Short from Pandya and Watson pulls it away in fine fashion to get off the mark with a boundary

2024 hrs IST: WICKET! Pandya goes short again and Finch miscues the pull to Dhawan in the deep. Australia four down now

2023 hrs IST: FOUR! Pandya pitches one short and Finch smashes it to the ropes. Brings up the 100 for Australia and moves into the 40s

2020 hrs IST: Boundaries drying up for Australia. They are 93/3 after 12 overs

2019 hrs IST: Yuvraj, after picking a wicket in his first over, returns for the second

That Raina stop has to be the cricketing equivalent of a running forehand winner @IExpressSports #IndvsAus

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) 27 March 2016

2018 hrs IST: Pandya bowls a tight over. Surprised Maxwell there with a couple of short deliveries

2014 hrs IST: Hardik Pandya with the ball now

2013 hrs IST: Australia, after a flying start, lose their way and are 81/3 at the half-way mark

2010 hrs IST: Glenn Maxwell is the new man in. Australia in desperate need of as steady stand here

2007 hrs IST: WICKET! Yuvraj Singh into the attack and he strikes with the first ball of his over. Half-tracker and Smith could only edge it to Dhoni behind the stumps. Australia 74/3

2004 hrs IST: Skipper Steve Smith is the new man in. He loves to bat against India, doesn’t he?

2002 hrs IST: WICKET! Ashwin beats Warner with turn. The left-hander out stumped for six, Australia 72/2

AshWIN, you beauty. Spin…bounce and more importantly, the deception in the air. Brilliant. #DimagSay #Bing #IndvAus

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) 27 March 2016

2000 hrs IST: Ashwin returns after a poor first over. India would want their best bowler to deliver in the big game today

1959 hrs IST: Jadeja concedes just five from his first. No signs of turn so far. Australia 64/1 after seven

1957 hrs IST: Powerplay over, Dhoni turns to spin. Jadeja into the attack now

1955 hrs IST: A couple of tight overs by India in the second half and Australia end the powerplay at 59/1

Brilliant that from Nehra ji. 3 overs for 16 runs while batsmen were on a rampage. #WT20 #INDvAUS

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) 27 March 2016

1950 hrs IST: Nehra bowls a top over. Concedes only two, and picks the big wicket of Khawaja. After 5, Australia 55/1

1949 hrs IST: David Warner is the new man in. Crowd getting behind the hosts now

1947 hrs IST: WICKET! Outside edge and Dhoni does the rest behind the stumps to get rid of Khawaja. Nehra gives India the all-important breakthrough. 54/1

1945 hrs IST: FIFTY up for Australia in the fourth over. Just the kind of start they would have hoped for after electing to bat first

Phew…reminding me of the beginning of the 2003 final vs #Aus. Hopefully we’ll get a different result this time. #Bing #DilSay #IndvsAus

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) 27 March 2016

1943 hrs IST: SIX! He goes after Ashwin again and just clears Pandya in the deep. Consecutive sixes for the opener

1942 hrs IST: SIX! Finch charges down the track and hits it for a maximum

Have India ever chased down 250 before ??? #ICCWT20

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) 27 March 2016

1941 hrs IST: Early spin! Ashwin into the attack now. India need a wicket here, Australia off to flying start

1939 hrs IST: Khawaja hits another boundary. All his runs have come in boundaries so far. Not a single!

1938 hrs IST: FOUR! Nehra gives room and Finch collects a boundary. Australia dealing in boundaries at the moment. Only one single in Australia’s 25

1937 hrs IST: FOUR! Khawaja runs one down to the third-man boundary for the fourth four of the innings. 17 coming from the over. Australia 21/0

1936 hrs IST: FOUR! Khawaja changes the angle but pitches it around the same length. Khawaja with his third boundary on the trot

1935 hrs IST: FOUR! Make that 2/2 for Khawaja. India need to be careful with their lengths. Australia openers won’t have any trouble in dispatching short stuff

1934 hrs IST: FOUR! Khawaja picks one in fine fashion and gets his second boundary

1933 hrs IST: No Ashwin. Pace from both ends. Jasprit Bumrah into the attack

1932 hrs IST: After conceding a boundary off the first ball, Nehra bowls five dot balls on the trot. Australia 4/0

1930 hrs IST: FOUR! Nehra dishes one short and Khawaja pulls it to the ropes. Australia, opener away with a boundary

1928 hrs IST: Vocal crowd in Mohali. It will be tough day at the office for the two umpires. Not an inch to move, packed house in Mohali

1927 hrs IST: Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch make their way out to the middle

#go Nehra go pic.twitter.com/pDgwxw0w03

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) 27 March 2016

1926 hrs IST: India team in a huddle. Ashish Nehra, it seems, will commence proceedings with the ball for the Men in Blue

1920 hrs IST: The two teams are out for the National Anthems. India have not made a single change to their XI in the tournament so far

A must win game for us, Come on India @BCCI #ICCWT20 #BleedBlue #TeamIndia #IndvsAus

— cheteshwar pujara (@cheteshwar1) 27 March 2016

1915 hrs IST: Here’s a look at how Australia have batted in the tournament so far

in T20WC 2016 – R\o for Aus 8.27 (batting)
PP (1-6): 8.50
middle (7-15): 7.22
death ov (16-20): 10.07#IndvsAus #DimagSay#Bing

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) 27 March 2016

1910 hrs IST: The team sheets are out. Here’s a look at the two XIs

IND XI: RG Sharma, S Dhawan, V Kohli, S Raina, Y Singh, MS Dhoni, H Pandya, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, A Nehra, J Bumrah

AUS XI: A Finch, U Khawaja, D Warner, S Smith, G Maxwell, S Watson, J Faulkner, P Nevill, A Zampa, N Coulter-Nile, J Hazlewood

1904 hrs IST: Typical Mohali wicket, Zaheer Khan feels should be decent enough to bat on

1858 hrs IST: TOSS! Australia win toss, elect to bat against India. Both sides unchanged and were looking to bat first

1853 hrs IST: This could well be Shane Watson’s last match in Australian colours

First look #WT20 pic.twitter.com/FYJJ3oI0YV

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) 27 March 2016

1848 hrs IST: Here’s why Ashwin’s spell is important – if he picks more than two wickets, India win 83% matches

1840 hrs IST: Shane Warne expects the contest to be a ripper today. He feels Australia need to find a way to get Virat Kohli out

1835 hrs IST: The toss is about 25 minutes away now. Earlier, Afghanistan beat West Indies for a historic win. Time for the big one now – India vs Australia from the PCA stadium in Mohali

1828 hrs IST: Mitchell Johnson, who took at Virat Kohli on Saturday, feels Australia will win today

Not long now until the big game, Ind v Aus🏏 Looking forward to watching some entertainment but I think Aus will get over the line just!

— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) 27 March 2016

1827 hrs IST: India women’s team crash out after losing to West Indies by three runs in Mohali. Over to the men’s contest now

1819 hrs IST: India women’s team needs 10 0ff the last over to stay alive in the contest

1814 hrs IST: Indian cricket team is in the house, cheering for the women’s team who are up against West Indies

1810 hrs IST: Crowd factor would play a role too as India are playing their first World T20 contest at this venue. Expect a packed house today

1808 hrs IST: The strip in Mohali is likely to assist spin. Our reporter informs us that the team batting second is in for some trouble

1806 hrs IST: There are plenty of battles within this battle in Mohali today. Which one are you waiting for? Maxwell vs Ashwin? or Nehra vs Warner? or Jadeja vs Watson? or Faulkner vs Kohli?

1804 hrs IST: In World T20s, however, there’s very little separating the two sides. They have met on four occasions and the head-to-head stands at 2-2

1802 hrs IST: India enjoy a good record over Australia in T20Is. In their last five meetings, India have won all five contests

1800 hrs IST: We are all in readiness for the big game between India and Australia in Mohali on Sunday. Bookmark this page for all the news, views and updates

FOLLOW THE MATCH IN HINDI HERE

BUILD-UP

Parallel’s apart, India-Australia diverge with end near

Live cricket score, India vs Australia, ICC T20 World Cup 2016: India have had the upper hand over Australia of late by winning the T20 series Down Under. (Express Photo by Kamleshwar Singh)

The script of both Australia and India has been similar in the tournament, but it will take a divergent turn today as only the winner progresses to the last four.

WATCH: India vs Australia Preview (App users click here)

Jasprit Bumrah: India’s death over specialist

Jasprit Bumrah’s journey to the Indian cricket team and becoming MS Dhoni’s ‘go-to’ man has involved lots of self-belief. (Express Photo by Kamleshwar Singh)

From pinging the floor-skirting of his room with a cricket ball to becoming MS Dhoni’s go-to man in death overs, it hasn’t been a fairy tale journey for pacer Jasprit Bumrah. What made the young pacer overcome personal tragedy and a career-threatening injury was an unflinching trust in his unique action, the knack of hitting the base of stumps at will and being calm under pressure.

PHOTOS: Indian team sweat it out at the nets

India put finishing touches to their preparations on Saturday. (Source: PTI)

We can beat Australia again: Kohli

Virat Kohli is in good touch in the ongoing ICC World T20. (Source: PTI)

Virat Kohli said Australia will be tough as usual but they would take positives out of their 3-0 win Down Under in January.

We have to be at our best: Shane Watson

Shane Watson could play his last international game against India after he announced to retire after World T20. (Source: PTI)

Beating India in their own backyard is the ultimate challenge and the boys are up for the knockout battle against the hosts in the ICC World Twenty20 in Mohali on Sunday, said Australian all-rounder Shane Watson.