A legendary Virat Kohli knock has lifted India to an extraordinary last-ball win over arch-rivals Pakistan in a chaotic Twenty20 World Cup classic at the MCG.

In another epic chapter in one of world sport’s biggest rivalries, Kohli’s unbeaten 82 lifted India from 4-31 to pass Pakistan’s 8-159 and secure an unforgettable four-wicket win.

Needing 16 runs off the final over, India had all-rounder Ravi Ashwin smash a four off the last ball to secure the winning runs and send the majority of the 90,293 fans into pandemonium.

The final six balls of the match from Pakistan spinner Mohammad Nawaz produced an array of twists and turns, including no-balls, wides and a stumping.

Tweet from @ICC

Kohli and Hardik Pandya put on a 113-run partnership before the latter was dismissed on the first ball of the last over.

Wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik made just one before he was out off the second last ball, bringing Ashwin to the crease.

Kohli and Pandya came to the rescue after India collapsed early in its chase, with fiery Pakistani quick Haris Rauf ripping through the top-order.

Rauf, who plays for Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League, used his MCG experience to his advantage to power Pakistan into a position of dominance.

He claimed the crucial wicket of Rohit Sharma and backed it up in his next over by dismissing Suryakumar Yadav to have India reeling.

Tweet from @virendersehwag

After 12 straight defeats to India in world cups, Pakistan looked to have turned the tables on its nemesis and appeared set to back up a thumping 10-wicket win in the UAE last year.

Earlier, India’s pace attack restricted Pakistan as captain Rohit Sharma’s decision to field first immediately paid off.

Young left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh removed Pakistani captain Babar Azam with his first ball in a World Cup.

The 23-year-old’s explosive opening spell, in which he also claimed Mohammad Rizwan, set the tone for the innings as Singh finished with 3-32.

After crawling to 2-32 at the end of the first powerplay, Pakistan received a boost through Iftikhar Ahmed and Shan Masood as the pair added 76 for the third wicket.

Ahmed started boosting the run-rate in the 12th over, blasting spinner Axar Patel for three monster sixes in four balls.

But Sharma recalled Mohammed Shami to the attack in the following over and the veteran quick dismissed Ahmed for 51 to have Pakistan 3-91.

That wicket triggered a collapse of 3-7, with Shadab Khan and Haider Ali holing out to Hardik Pandya after powerful shots fell short of clearing the boundary.

Masood played the important anchor role, compiling an unbeaten 52 to give Pakistan a chance of defending its total.

Heavy rain predicted for Melbourne that threatened to derail the match never eventuated in a boost for all involved.

The crowd figure was one of the biggest for a cricket game in Australia, falling narrowly short of the 93,013 that attended the 2015 ODI World Cup final.

India and Pakistan are in Group B with South Africa, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and the Netherlands.

-AAP