In a thrilling Champions Trophy 2025 encounter, Virat Kohli once again proved why he is India’s backbone in high-pressure games. Facing Pakistan in Dubai, the veteran batter delivered a stunning performance, scoring his 51st ODI century and leading India to a comfortable six-wicket win.
Chasing a target of 242, India sealed the game with 45 balls to spare, thanks to Kohli’s exceptional 100 off 111 balls*, which he brought up in style by hitting the winning runs. The only question towards the end was whether Kohli could complete his century before India reached the target—and he did both in the same moment.
India’s Dominant Chase
Despite Shreyas Iyer’s dismissal, India remained firmly in control. Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi tried to create some pressure, but a few wides made Kohli’s job of reaching his ton slightly tricky.
Kohli also reached another massive milestone, becoming the fastest Indian to score 14,000 ODI runs, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. His century stand with Shreyas Iyer ensured India never lost momentum after Shubman Gill’s dismissal.
Gill, who had been in sublime touch, was undone by a brilliant delivery from Abrar Ahmed that crashed into the off-stump. Earlier, Gill’s explosive batting had taken the shine off Rohit Sharma’s early dismissal, making Pakistan’s brief joy short-lived.
Pakistan missed a crucial opportunity when Khushdil Shah dropped Gill at mid-wicket, leaving Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Rizwan in disbelief. India continued their charge, undeterred by occasional setbacks.
Pakistan’s Struggles with the Bat
Batting first, Pakistan was bowled out for 241 inside 50 overs after experiencing fluctuating fortunes throughout their innings. The highlight was a century stand between Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel, which momentarily steadied their ship after early wickets.
However, India’s bowlers, led by Kuldeep Yadav (3/40), Axar Patel, and Hardik Pandya (2/31 in 8 overs), dismantled Pakistan’s middle order before they could capitalize. If not for Khushdil Shah’s 39, even a 200-run total would have been a challenge.
Kohli also made his presence felt in the field, taking his 157th career ODI catch, making him India’s most successful fielder in the format.
At one point, Kuldeep’s twin strikes left him on a hat-trick, while Axar, Hardik, and Jadeja combined to trigger a collapse, removing Rizwan, Shakeel, and Tayyab Tahir in quick succession. Harshit Rana had a chance to dismiss Rizwan on 44 but dropped a straightforward catch. However, Axar Patel made up for it, bowling Rizwan in the very next over.
Pakistan’s Inconsistent Batting Approach
After losing Babar Azam and later Imam-ul-Haq to a stunning direct hit by Axar, Pakistan desperately needed a partnership, which Rizwan and Shakeel eventually provided. But their slow approach puzzled commentators, as Pakistan went nearly 50 balls without a boundary, stifling their scoring rate.
Once Rizwan and Shakeel finally cut loose, they hit a flurry of boundaries to bring up a 50-run stand, but India tightened their grip once again.
Gill Steps Up as Captain
During the match, Rohit Sharma briefly left the field, handing over captaincy duties to Shubman Gill, who led with remarkable composure. Under his leadership, Pakistan struggled to find the fence for 32 consecutive balls, showcasing India’s disciplined bowling.
India suffered a brief injury scare when Mohammed Shami, after bowling just two overs, complained of leg pain. Although he returned to complete his over, he soon left the field for treatment. Earlier, he had a tough start, sending down an 11-ball over that included five wides.
Conclusion
With this emphatic victory, India continued their dominance over Pakistan in ICC events. Virat Kohli’s brilliance, combined with India’s clinical bowling and sharp fielding, ensured they had the upper hand throughout the match.
India now marches ahead in the Champions Trophy 2025 with momentum, while Pakistan will need to regroup quickly to stay in the hunt.
