Virat Kohli, the cricketing maestro, showcased his brilliance once again in a high-stakes match against arch-rivals Pakistan, leading India to a resounding victory in the 2025 Champions Trophy. In a game that had fans on the edge of their seats, Kohli’s masterful innings not only secured his 51st ODI century but also propelled India towards a semi-final spot, effectively eliminating Pakistan from the tournament.
The highly anticipated clash between the two cricketing powerhouses lived up to its billing, with Kohli displaying his enduring class and skill despite facing questions about his form and abilities. As the Indian skipper notched up 14,000 runs in ODI cricket, his century proved to be a pivotal moment in the match, setting the stage for a memorable victory.
India Dominates with Stellar Performances
India’s dominance was evident throughout the match, as they successfully restricted Pakistan to 241 runs, thanks to standout performances from players like Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav. Pandya’s exceptional all-round skills, which saw him dismiss key Pakistani batters, highlighted his match-winning impact on the game. Meanwhile, Kuldeep’s wizardry with his left-arm wristspin added a layer of complexity for the opposition, leading to crucial wickets in the death overs.
As the Indian bowlers kept the pressure on Pakistan, the defending champions found themselves struggling to capitalize on key moments, ultimately succumbing to India’s relentless attack. While Pakistan showcased glimpses of brilliance, such as Shaheen Shah Afridi’s fiery yorker and Abrar Ahmed’s deceptive deliveries, they faltered in converting these moments into sustained momentum, allowing India to seize control of the match.
A Masterclass by Kohli and Co.
In a match marked by tense moments and shifting fortunes, it was Kohli’s unwavering focus and determination that stood out. Despite a few hiccups against the Pakistani bowlers, Kohli’s ability to anchor the chase and guide India to victory with a blend of precision and patience was a testament to his unmatched skill and experience on the field.
While emerging talents like Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer made valuable contributions to India’s successful run chase, it was Kohli’s sheer dominance that captured the attention of fans and critics alike. His calculated approach to building an innings, coupled with his knack for accelerating the scoring rate when needed, showcased why he is considered one of the greatest batters of his generation.
As Kohli reached the milestone of 51 ODI centuries and sealed the win for India with a composed display of batting prowess, the crowd in Dubai erupted in cheers and chants, celebrating their hero’s achievement. The match, which started as a fiercely contested rivalry, ended with Kohli’s century symbolizing the sheer inevitability of his success on the cricket field.
In the end, as Kohli glanced towards the dressing room after securing his hundred, his words “I told you. Relax” reverberated across the stadium, encapsulating the ease with which he had orchestrated India’s victory. With this unforgettable performance, Kohli once again proved why he is a force to be reckoned with in international cricket, leaving fans and critics in awe of his enduring excellence.
Mohammad Rizwan had banked on the innings going so differently. He came in at 47 for 2 and hit his first ball for four and then decided run-scoring was not for him. He was 24 off 50. He barely hit the ball in anger. He point blank refused to. At the other end, Saud Shakeel was at least making an effort to turn the good balls he was facing into singles. When he got to fifty, he had weathered only 29 dot balls. At the same time, Rizwan at the other end, had racked up 40. India did well by denying him spin to start his innings. But still, this was a better pitch than the opening game in Dubai a few days ago. It wasn’t flat, but it had a little more pace in it, and it got better under lights. Rizwan, though, batted like it was cursed. He was worried bad things would happen if he tried to hit the ball hard. And it kinda did. Rizwan fell trying to hit Axar out of the ground and his wicket triggered a collapse. Shakeel fell in the next over and Tayyab Tahir followed soon after. India, having spent 320 deliveries across two matches searching for a wicket in the middle overs, had found three in the space of four. Pakistan were 165 for 5. Soon they would be 200 for 7, having to negotiate the last 7.1 overs of the innings with their tail exposed.
India’s discipline never let Pakistan off the hook and leading the way was Hardik, banging the ball just short of a length on a pitch that was offering a bit of grip and some tennis-ball bounce. He took out Babar Azam at a time when India’s lead fast bowler, Mohammed Shami was off the field with a shin problem, with a lovely ball that nipped away after pitching and he did Shakeel for lack of pace just after the left-hander had smacked him for four. He just always knew what to do to exploit the conditions and make the batter’s life miserable. On the back of his work, Kuldeep and Rana bowled 6.4 death overs for 28 runs and picked up four wickets.
Gill was the star of India’s chase early on, a conscious effort to keep his front foot from moving too far forward and across leaving him excellently placed to take advantage of Afridi and his full length deliveries when there was no swing on offer. When he rammed the Pakistan fast bowler down the ground and then one-upped it by coming down the track and lifting the ball into the sightscreen, it looked like it was going to be his day. Abrar intervened with a ball that drifted in through the air, tempting the right-hander to close the face of his bat, and turned away to rattle middle and off stump. Gill was stunned.
Kohli, too, offered a shrug of his shoulders. He looked vulnerable against Abrar too and was almost bowled playing back to him. But against the quicks, he was vintage. He went past 14,000 runs with a crisp cover drive off Haris Rauf. All of Pakistan’s best bowlers offer pace on the ball. And that is Kohli’s happy place. A batter of his quality needs to be made uncomfortable at the crease when he is new. He had been dismissed five times in his last six ODIs by legspin. Pakistan had one of those and they felt they couldn’t go to him.
