India, chasing 261 for victory, were faltering badly at 187 for five when skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was out. But Yuvraj and fellow left-hander Suresh Raina (34 not out) delighted frenzied fans in a 42,000 capacity Sardar Patel Stadium crowd with an unbroken stand of 74 that saw the co-hosts triumph.

The victory sets up a semi-final with arch-rivals Pakistan in Mohali on March 30. Yuvraj, who joked it was the first time he had been applauded at a press conference, was asked if everything he was touching was now turning to gold. "I think so. Last year, whatever I was doing was turning into mud," he said. "I have been thinking about beating Australia in this World Cup for one year, that I would be there till the end and winning the game for India.

"I honestly thought about this 365 days of the year. I have been dreaming of this. Probably because Australia are three-time (successive) champions," explained Yuvraj. The 29-year-old's fourth 50 in six innings, also including a hundred, took his average at this World Cup to an astonishing 113.66.

It also represented a remarkable turnaround after he'd not that long ago found himself out of the side, struggling for fitness and runs.

"This is a moment we live for," added Yuvraj, who mysteriously said he was playing this tournament for a "special person". But he would only reveal the identity if India, bidding for a second World Cup title to add to their 1983 triumph, made it to the final.

In order to do that they must first beat arch-rivals Pakistan, who thrashed the West Indies by 10 wickets in their last eight clash in Dhaka on Wednesday. Yuvraj, who also took two for 44 with his left-arm spin against Australia, said that would be another "dream game" for India.

However, asked about the tactics for that match, he joked: "I'm sure whatever plans we have for Pakistan, MS (Dhoni) will tell you at the next press conference. "We are just doing the best we can."