Kohli said he and Dhoni knew they had to target James Faulkner in the 18th over.
Virat Kohli, who mastered India's successful run-chase against Australia to take his team through to semi-finals at Mohali on Sunday, has admitted that he has "never played an innings" in a situation where 39 were needed in last three overs. Kohli said that he had decided to target James Faulkner in the 18th over.
"The thoughts, the pre-planning for the boundary just kept coming to me in my mind. I knew a hundred percent that I had to target James Faulkner in the 18th over. I thought 3 overs and 39 runs, and one over has to be a big one at least close to 15 runs. We got bigger (19) than that. I think just before the 16th over, I thought if we don't get too many boundaries, we might be struggling in the end because the pitch was not as flat."
Click here for the full coverage of the ICC World T20 including match scorecards, reports, commentary etc
Kohli said that the slower balls were holding up. "The slower balls were holding up. It was very important to stay in the moment and pick your gaps. It was a quick outfield, so I knew if I could beat the fielder inside the ring, I would probably end up getting four runs."
The best part about having Dhoni at the other end is that he pushed for the twos. "I think what really helped was him (Dhoni) running those twos. The opposition panicked a bit because of that. They were unsettled because they knew we could run the runs as well and get 12 off one over without taking a risk. I think that is when the bowlers started thinking too much," Kohli said.
"Credit to MS Dhoni. He kept me calm and kept telling me - 'Pick your areas, these many runs are left in these many balls'. He didn't want me to get carried away or over excited. He just kept telling me what are the areas I could pick and that just gave me assurance," Kohli said.
"If I was going to go towards covers, he would give me assurance again and I became confident. I think that is where communication and partnership helps. It was wonderful to pull the team out of that situation."
Kohli said that it is for the cricket lovers to decide where to put this Indian chase in the pecking order.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Virat Kohli")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}