ICC World T20, India vs West Indies: Virat Kohli highlights style and composure once again

New Delhi: Virat Kohli's emphatic contribution with the bat on big occasions is becoming a good habit for himself and India.

Kohli has been a master of his craft in the ongoing ICC World Twenty20 and his run feast continued after a peach of an innings against Australia.

Kohli beat the heat and humidity with a stroke-filled unbeaten 89 runs against the West Indies on Thursday in a crucial semi-final encounter at the Wankhede, Mumbai.

This was the star batsman's 16th half -century to highlight his special bond with the format.

Kohli's a gem between the wickets and he made sure the West Indies fielders were kept in pressure throughout the game after running superbly to pick singles and twos. If the running between wickets kept India's flow on a batting friendly pitch, Kohli ensured his wide range of boundary hitting was on exhibition.

39 runs came in singles and twos to showcase his fitness and composure at the middle.

The batting maestro rode with a bit of luck after being dropped twice near the boundary, and also surviving a run-out chance earlier in his innings. The missed run-out costed Windies a lot as Virat made them pay heavily with an effortless display on the middle.

The key to Kohli's love affair with the bat has been his running and he got a lot of support from Ajinkya Rahane and skipper MS Dhoni.

This is what makes him special and the bar he has set is supreme.

Kohli's batting has been a magical affair for India in this World Twenty20 and his difference in class separates him from the rest.

This was Kohli's third unbeaten T20I half-century in this World T20 affair. Knocks against Pakistan and Australia came at a challenging situation, but the man came out on top.

Kohli's been a serial match winner for India and if his knocks of 55* and 82* were top notch, the innings against West Indies would also be right up there.

This was a much easier batting surface that India have played and Kohli's application needs to be lauded largely for the way his form made the difference.