Kohli’s Century Powers India to Six-Wicket Win Over Pakistan in Champions Trophy Thriller
Dubai, February 23:
In a high-stakes clash at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 , Virat Kohli delivered a masterclass innings of 100 off 111 deliveries to guide India to a commanding six-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai. Chasing a modest target of 242 , India comfortably crossed the line with 45 balls to spare , thanks to Kohli’s brilliance and a solid supporting cast.
Kohli’s Milestone-Laden Knock Anchors Chase
After losing opener Rohit Sharma early in the powerplay, Kohli walked in to stabilize the innings and kept the scoreboard ticking with his trademark composure. The 36-year-old brought up his 51st ODI century , the most by any batter in the format, surpassing legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara . In the process, he also became only the third batter in ODI history to cross the 14,000-run mark , further cementing his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.
Kohli found an able ally in Shreyas Iyer , who played a crucial knock of 56 off 67 balls . The duo stitched together a 114-run partnership for the third wicket, ensuring India stayed ahead of the required run rate. Iyer’s half-century came at a vital juncture as India crossed the 200-run mark in the 37th over, putting them on course for victory.
However, Pakistan briefly threatened a comeback when they dismissed both Iyer and Hardik Pandya in quick succession. Iyer was caught by Imam-ul-Haq off Khushdil Shah , while Pandya nicked a delivery from Shaheen Shah Afridi to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan . But Kohli remained unfazed, steering India home alongside Axar Patel in the final overs.
Pakistan’s Innings: A Collapse After Promising Start
Earlier, after winning the toss and opting to bat first, Pakistan struggled to capitalize on a promising start. Openers Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq showed intent early on, with Babar flicking Harshit Rana through mid-wicket and driving elegantly through the covers. However, their momentum was short-lived.
Hardik Pandya provided the breakthrough by dismissing Babar for a well-made 24, inducing an edge that was safely taken by wicketkeeper KL Rahul . Shortly after, Axar Patel executed a direct hit to run out Imam-ul-Haq for 10, leaving Pakistan reeling at 49/2 in the powerplay.
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Skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel then steadied the ship with a 104-run partnership for the third wicket. Shakeel notched his fourth ODI fifty, while Rizwan played responsibly to rebuild the innings. However, the middle order collapsed under pressure from India’s spinners.
Axar Patel broke the partnership by removing Rizwan with a flighted delivery that bowled the right-hander. Hardik Pandya struck again to dismiss Shakeel for 52, and Ravindra Jadeja cleaned up Tayyab Tahir to leave Pakistan struggling at 165/5 .
The lower order saw a late flourish from Khushdil Shah , who scored a quickfire 38 , but Kuldeep Yadav ran through the tail with a three-wicket burst in his final spell. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 241 , with Kuldeep finishing with figures of 3/42 .
Key Highlights
- Kuldeep Yadav’s Spin Spell: The left-arm spinner dismantled Pakistan’s lower order, claiming three wickets in his final over to restrict the total under 250.
- Shaheen Afridi’s Early Strike: Shaheen removed Rohit Sharma in the powerplay, rattling his stumps with a delivery that seamed back sharply.
- Abrar Ahmed’s Wicket-Taking Delivery: Abrar deceived Shubman Gill with a leg-breaker that crashed into the stumps, ending Gill’s promising knock of 46 off 52 balls .
India’s Dominance in Key Moments
Despite losing two quick wickets during the chase, India never let the required run rate spiral out of control. Kohli’s calm demeanor and ability to rotate the strike ensured there was no panic in the camp. Axar Patel played a composed cameo in the end to see India home.
Playing XIs
Pakistan:
Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (w/c), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
India:
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav
What This Means for Both Teams
With this win, India keeps their hopes alive for a semifinal spot after their opening loss to New Zealand . On the other hand, Pakistan’s campaign hangs by a thread, as they now face an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages.
Kohli’s heroics once again proved why he remains the heartbeat of India’s batting lineup, while Pakistan will rue missed opportunities to post a more competitive total. As the tournament progresses, India will look to build on this momentum, while Pakistan must regroup quickly to stay in contention.
