Virat Kohli delivered a standout performance against arch-rivals Pakistan, scoring his 51st ODI century to lead India to victory by six wickets in Dubai. His gritty innings anchored the team after Rohit Sharma’s dismissal, helping India chase down a target of 242 runs. Kohli’s century, celebrated with a viral crowd gesture, marked his first in the Champions Trophy and brought him to 14,000 ODI runs. Alongside Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, Kohli formed crucial partnerships, ultimately sealing the win with a stylish cover drive, solidifying his status as a crucial player for India in high-pressure matches.
When the moment arrives, the true champion rises! On Sunday, it was Virat Kohli once more! Amidst doubts about his form and the ever-challenging Pakistan team facing him, Virat Kohli made his presence felt by scoring his 51st ODI century, leading India (244/4 in 42.3 overs) to a six-wicket victory over Pakistan (241) in Dubai. On a sluggish pitch, Kohli’s innings showcased determination as he steadied India following Rohit Sharma’s dismissal and, as expected, he struck the winning runs to complete his 51st ton in style.
Following his century, Virat Kohli waved to the crowd, seemingly signaling ‘Calm down, I’m here’. This gesture quickly went viral.
! @imVkohli leads #TeamIndia to victory, marking his first-ever hundred in the #ChampionsTrophy, his 51st in ODIs, and 82nd across all formats.
Bow down, KING! #ChampionsTrophyOnJioStar #INDvPAK | WATCH NOW on Star… pic.twitter.com/pzUmDiAtyp
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 23, 2025
Despite employing all strategies at their disposal, Virat emerged as an insurmountable obstacle for Pakistan. He delivered a masterclass performance with the bat, ensuring India’s success and pushing Pakistan to the brink of elimination. Showcasing his exceptional form, Virat crossed the milestone of 14,000 ODI runs while guiding India to a remarkable win against their long-standing rival.
Chasing a target of 242, Rohit Sharma reserved his aggressive style for Naseem Shah, launching a fierce assault before Shaheen Afridi sent his middle stump flying with an inswinging yorker on 20(15).
After a quick 31-run opening stand, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli steered India’s innings with a blend of caution and aggression. Gill took on the role of the aggressor while Virat provided stability to the partnership.
With Naseem and Shaheen proving ineffective during the powerplay, skipper Mohammad Rizwan introduced the fiery Haris Rauf into the attack.
In his debut over, Haris almost made a breakthrough when Gill pulled the ball straight to Khusdil Shah, who dropped the catch. After this miss, some frustrated expressions were evident on the faces of the Pakistani team.
Gill and Virat combined for a crucial 69-run partnership before mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed broke through. A well-executed carrom ball from Abrar outsmarted Gill, who was left perplexed by its spin and returned with a valuable score of 46(52).
Shreyas Iyer joined forces with Virat to create a partnership that significantly weakened Pakistan’s defense. While Virat focused on watching the ball closely, Shreyas unleashed a series of reverse sweeps to keep the Pakistani bowlers at bay.
With a beautiful shot, Virat sent the ball racing to the boundary, marking his 74th ODI fifty. The bowlers switched at the other end, but they couldn’t break the formidable alliance forming between Virat and Shreyas.
In the 31st over, Shreyas opted for a more aggressive approach, stepping down the pitch to strike the ball over deep mid-wicket for a lofty six. He eventually brought up his 21st ODI fifty with a single in the 37th over.
In the 39th over, an outstanding catch from Imam-ul-Haq off Khushdil Shah ended Shreyas’ innings at 56(67). Hardik Pandya came to the crease, quickly hitting a four but was dismissed by Rizwan off Shaheen for 8(6).
Virat persisted in his quest for a record-extending 51st ODI century, which he achieved with a splendid cover drive, sealing a six-wicket win for India with over seven overs remaining.
With ANI contributions
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