In Islamabad, cricket fans celebrated Virat Kohli’s stunning century in a Champions Trophy Group A match, despite it effectively eliminating Pakistan from the tournament they host. A viral video showed Pakistani fans joyfully reacting to Kohli’s achievement, particularly his 51st ODI hundred, which completed India’s successful chase of 242 runs. Kohli, reflecting on his performance, noted his strategy involved taking calculated risks, especially with his cover drives. He emphasized the importance of minimizing risk while batting at number three and his commitment to helping his team win, highlighting his accomplishment of being the fastest to reach 14,000 ODI runs.
In a clash between emotion and intellect, cricket enthusiasts in Islamabad leaned towards their emotions as they celebrated Virat Kohli’s stunning century in a Champions Trophy Group A match, which effectively sent Pakistan towards early tournament elimination. A video capturing Pakistani fans in Islamabad rejoicing over Kohli’s remarkable innings gained traction on social media, while Mohammad Rizwan and his team faced the harsh reality of an impending exit from a tournament they were officially hosting. For some fans, Kohli’s dynamic performance with the bat was the highlight, overshadowing the team’s struggle for survival.
The video showcased fans rejoicing at Kohli’s boundary that marked his 51st ODI century. Coincidentally, that four also ensured India’s successful run-chase of 242 runs, set by Pakistan in their second group encounter.
https://t.co/5KyXSQMhdh pic.twitter.com/51Uliy4GNm
— Muhammad Faizan Aslam Khan (@FaizanBinAslam1) February 23, 2025
What Virat Kohli Shared About His 51st ODI Century:
“It’s a bit of a catch-22 situation. This has been a recurring challenge for me, yet I’ve scored plenty of runs off those shots. Today was about trusting my technique. The first few boundaries were cover drives played on the rise, so I needed to take a little risk and follow through with my shots,” Kohli expressed in a video shared on bcci.tv.
“When I play those kinds of shots, I feel in control. Overall, it was a good innings for me personally, and we had phenomenal teamwork,” he remarked. Additionally, Kohli became the fastest player to reach 14,000 ODI runs, with the majority of those innings coming while batting at number three.
“I was able to bat in a manner that worked for me and contribute to a winning effort. It feels amazing, especially since it was crucial to secure this win to qualify,” stated the 36-year-old.
“One principle I’ve always adhered to while batting at number three is to minimize risks and ensure my team is in a favorable winning position. If there’s an opportunity to close out the game in a run chase, it’s far more advantageous. I consistently gravitate towards those circumstances. My role remains unchanged over the years. No matter what the game requires, I focus and strive to fulfill that,” he continued.
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