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PHOTOS: Kohli's blitzkrieg help India beat Pakistan
Virat Kohli produced a blistering 183 off 148 balls as India notched up their highest run chase ever to register an incredible six-wicket victory over arch rivals Pakistan and keep themselves afloat in the Asia Cup cricket tournament on Sunday.
Chasing Pakistan's stiff 329 for six, the Indians rode on Kohli's breath-taking heroics to pull off a sensational victory with 13 balls to spare in a high-voltage contest at the jam-packed Sher-e-Bangla national stadium.
Indians overshadow Pakistan openers' efforts
The outstanding batting display by the Indians completely overshadowed the centuries of the two Pakistan openers Nasir Jamshed (112) and Mohammad Hafeez (105) who stitched a record 224-run opening partnership.
But their efforts went in vain.The opening stand is Pakistan's highest against India eclipsing Saeed Anwar and Aamer Sohail's opening stand of 144 in Singapore, back in 1996.
Indian bowlers looked clueless
The 50 of the Pakistani innings came in the 10th over and 100 in the 18th over as Dhoni's bowlers looked clueless in the wake of the onslaught.
While Praveen's lack of pace on a slow pitch became his undoing, Irfan time and again drifted on the pads as both Jamshed and Hafeez gleefully kept clipping those deliveries at will.
Dhoni even tried to use four spinners-- all off-spinners Ravichandran Ashwin, Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma. The one-dimensional spin-attack also went for runs.
Hafeez hit Pathan Senior for a big six over square leg.
Tendulkar, now a relaxed man
With the burden of the 100th international ton off his shoulders, Tendulkar seemed to be in a more relaxed frame of mind and an upper cut six off Umar Gul brought back memories of his vintage days.
The pair brought about the 100-run partnership in 92 balls to keep India in the hunt while Kohli notched up his half century soon after by cutting Saeed Ajmal to the boundary.
In the next over off Wahab Riaz, Tendulkar posted his 96th ODI half century off just 45 balls. Just when the partnership was assuming dangerous proportions, spinner Ajmal provided the vital breakthrough by evicting Tendulkar who seemed to be in sublime touch.
Kohli keeps India afloat
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit Umar Gul to the boundary to bring about India's victory, triggering off scenes of celebrations in the dressing too.
India, whose Asia Cup campaign was thrown into disarray after their upset five-wicket defeat against minnows Bangladesh, will now have to await the result of the last league match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on Tuesday.
If Sri Lanka wins, India will go into the final but a Sri Lankan defeat will ensure that Bangladesh take on Pakistan in the final on March 22.
As per the rules, if two teams are tied on points, head to head record will be considered, so Bangladesh will go into the final as they had beaten India in their league match.