Chasing 129 for victory, India completed their sprint with 18 balls remaining but their net run rate, still lodged below Pakistan's as they could not complete the chase within 16.4 overs that was required.
The result also requires a lot of complicated maths to be done as things become very interesting in the group. With Pakistan's NRR (net run rate) being -0.43 and India's -0.45, the result threw the group wide open.
The situation is that both Pakistan and India are on 2 points. Australia are on four points and they have a great NRR. So, Australia are almost through; thus throws a lifeline to South Africa who have to win their last match against India and hope that Australia beat Pakistan.
Man of the match Kohli, who was dropped by Imran Nazir on 64, played a superb knock with nine boundaries and two sixes and remained unbeaten with Yuvraj Singh (19) to lead India to a much-needed victory at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
India stumbled at the start losing their opener Gautam Gambhir (0) off the second ball of the innings for a caught and bowled effort of Raza Hasan. But the recalled Virender Sehwag (29) and Kohli picked up the tempo from there to steer India to a comfortable position.
After a crucial 74-run second wicket stand, Sehwag departed for a catch to Umar Gul off Shahid Afridi.
Earlier, Pakistan's decision to bat first backfired as they posted a below-par total of 128 losing all their wickets in 19.4 overs.
Pakistan never looked like getting a bigger score as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
After a dreadful start that saw them slump to 59-6, Pakistan started rebuilding with Shoaib Malik (28) and Umar Akmal (21), but Malik was sent packing by Ravichandran Ashwin for a catch to Rohit Sharma at mid-wicket after the duo added 47 runs for the sixth wicket.
Shortly after that, Umar sent Ashwin flying for a catch to Suresh Raina in deep mid-wicket.
Yuvraj threw a blinder to run Yasir Arafat (8) out, who fell short of the crease at the bowler's end in an attempt to chip in a quick single.
Lakshmipathy Balaji got rid of Umar Gul (12) who mistimed a full toss ball to send it high up for an easy catch to the keeper.
Saeed Ajmal (1) was the last man to fall for Pakistan, lobbing the ball for another easy catch to keeper MS Dhoni.
Before that, opener Mohammad Hafeez (15) was bowled by a Kohli slower delivery that he edged into the stumps.
Kamran Akmal (5), in an attempt to slog a well-flighted Yuvraj Singh delivery, edged the ball to Dhoni to leave Pakistan in dire straits.
Nasir Jamshed (14) was caught behind off Yuvraj as he tried to sweep an angled ball only to edge it to the keeper.
Moments before that, Shahid Afridi (14) was taken out by Lakshmipathy Balaji for a catch to Suresh Raina in deep mid-wicket.
The other opener Imran Nazir (8) was the first man to go for Pakistan, trapped in front of the stumps by Irfan Pathan.
For India, Balaji took three for 22 runs while Yuvraj and Ashwin took two each.
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