ICC World Twenty20: India now a dangerous unit after blowing Pakistan away

On the eve of India's ICC World Twenty20 match against Pakistan, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had said that his team would be a dangerous unit if they overcame the Pakistan hurdle. (Virat Kohli played an awesome innings under pressure: Shahid Afridi)

On Saturday, in front of packed stands at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, India hammered Pakistan by six wickets to stay on course for a semifinal berth. The bowlers did splendidly again to restrict Pakistan to 118/5 off 18 overs on a raging turner. Still, that target threatened to pose serious problems for a batting line-up that hs at times appeared inept in spin-friendly conditions. ('Hurt' Virat Kohli wanted to keep calm and thrash Pakistan)

India had capitulated in Nagpur on a square turner against New Zealand's hitherto unknown spinners. They snared nine Indian wickets as the hosts were handed a shock 47-run defeat. That consequently affected their net run rate. Then there was threat of rain ruining this game at the Eden. But the gods smiled and play started without much damage to the overs - only two were reduced per side as India won the toss and asked Pakistan to bat. .(11 on 11: India beat Pakistan at Eden Gardens, 11 World Cup matches, 11 wins)

Before the match, the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Sourav Ganguly and Steve Waugh had said India would be under more pressure than Pakistan. Waqar Younis had reckoned India would feel the heat against Pakistan for the first time in a World Cup match.

There were several statistics to consider. India had never lost to Pakistan in six World Cup matches and four World T20 matches. They had a perfect 10.

On the other hand, Pakistan had never lost a limited-overs game at the Eden Gardens. One of these records had to break in the City of Joy on a rainy Saturday.

After India were reduced to 23/3, thanks to Mohammad Sami's twin strikes in the fifth over, it looked like Pakistan would finally break their World Cup jinx against India. The horrific memories of the Nagpur collapse came flooding back.

Enter Virat Kohli.

The Delhi dasher had walked in at the fall of Rohit Sharma's wicket. He saw Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina perish against Sami's pace. He then greeted Yuvraj Singh into the middle and decided to execute their plans to perfection. The same pair had played a stellar role on a green pitch during India's successful chase against Pakistan in the Asia Cup T20.

Kohli and Yuvraj, weathered the storm and shared a 61-run partnership to take the game away from Pakistan in front of cheering home fans. There was no stopping Kohli, who scant respect to Shahid Afridi and Sami, who was bowling with serious pace.

By the time Yuvraj fell to Mohammad Irfan, India were on the verge of another win. MS Dhoni walked out, smashed Irfan for a six and stole a single to seal the deal for India. 11 out of 11. India had bossed Pakistan in a World Cup game yet again.

India next face Bangladesh in Bangalore on Wednesday and Australia in Mohali next Sunday. They are primed to win both. Bangalore, with its flat pitch and small boundaries, will suit India just fine. Mohali of course has happy memories for Dhoni's men - that was where India had pounded Pakistan in the semifinal of the 2011 World Cup, that was where Kohli's boys had humbled South Africa. The Aussies had better watch out.

It would need a miracle for Bangladesh to stop the Indian juggernaut. And Australia have some obvious chinks in their armour, as New Zealand showed in Dharamsala on Friday. The Australians are still suspect against quality spin and India will dish out a lot of that.

Once India reach the semifinals, they will be unstoppable. Yes, it is a sweeping statement but that's how good they are in this format.

Dhoni has worked out the T20 format to the last detail. He was successful with the now banned Chennai Super Kings and he is now repeating the same formula with the Indian team. The batsmen are firing, the bowlers are delivering and Kohli is scoring runs for fun.

In Virender Sehwag's words, only the weather can stop India from winning the World T20 for a record second time. Bring it on, MS!