Virat Kohli: Sweep across formats very special

India skipper Virat Kohli holds the winner's trophy after beating Sri Lanka in the one-off T20I in Colombo yesterday. Pic /PTI

Skipper Virat Kohli hit a blazing half-century as India completed their rout of Sri Lanka on this tour, winning the one-off Twenty20 by seven wickets here yesterday.

Chasing 171, India rode on a 119-run second-wicket stand between Kohli (82) and Manish Pandey (51 not out) to achieve their target with four balls to spare. The visitors remained unbeaten in their nine matches against Sri Lanka as they won the Test and one-day series 3-0 and 5-0 respectively.

"Very special, it (whitewash across formats) hasn't been done before. Credit to all the hard work that the boys have put in over the past couple of months in all formats of the game," said a delighted Kohli.

"That's evidence of the fact how hungry the players are in Indian cricket. The bench strength is coming through so beautifully... results are amazing to see as a captain," he added.

Kohli, who received the man of the match award, remained calm in a tricky chase with Pandey for company after India lost their openers for 42 runs in the sixth over.

Pandey finished off the game with a boundary that brought his maiden T20 fifty in 36 balls. "We knew one good partnership will get us through. So it was about staying calm in the middle... and Manish was outstanding today. That partnership was very crucial," said Kohli.

Earlier leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal played his part by claiming three wickets to restrict Sri Lanka to 170-7 after being put into bat first.