Hats off to Virat: Rohit Sharma after India beat Pakistan in T20 World Cup thriller

"Virat and Hardik are experienced guys. Staying calm and taking it as deep as possible was critical, and they did that. It's good for our confidence to get off the mark in our first game, and the way we won is more pleasing for us, the way we came back," Sharma said in a post  match presentation.

"Hats off to Virat. It has to go off as not one of his best, but the best innings he has played for India," Sharma said.

Meanwhile, a video of Sharma lifting up Kohli on his shoulders after the victory is going viral on social media.

BCCI secretary and Asian Cricket Council president Jay Shah shared the image and tweeted: "Turning back time! The chase master @imVkohli is back and what a match to showcase his skills. What a game we have witnessed today! Congratulations #TeamIndia."

India's run machine Virat Kohli played a scintillating knock of unbeaten 82 runs to help India beat Pakistan by four wickets in a high-voltage T20 World Cup Super 12 stage match here on Sunday.

After restricting Pakistan to 159 runs for the loss of eight wickets, led by Kohli, India reached the winning target of 160 runs by losing six wickets.

Kohli, who was adjudged the Player of the Match, hammered six boundaries and four sixes in his dashing knock which changed the course of the game.

Kohli smashed  Haris Rauf for two consecutive sixes in the 19th over which left India closer to the target.

Despite losing Hardik Pandya (40) and Dinesh Karthik (1), Kohli and Ashwin reached the target at the end.

Mohammad Nawaz gave away extras in the final over to make things tough for Pakistan.

Ashwin hit a single in the last ball of the innings to register victory.

India were struggling at 4-31 at one point in the match.

Kohli and Pandya contributed  113 runs in the fifth wicket partnership which changed the course of the action.

Kohli remained the champion of the night as he anchored the innings with his heroic knock and perfectly wished the countrymen on Diwali by giving them a victory.

In the last edition of the T20 World Cup in UAE last year, Pakistan had defeated India by 10 wickets and then even defeated the side in the Asia Cup to knock out the neighbours from the tournament.

Haris Rauf and  Mohammad Nawaz picked up two wickets for Pakistan.

Rauf had removed two quick Indian wickets early to leave India in trouble.

India started their World Cup campaign with a victory.