Virat Kohli as soon as once more displayed his unmatched class below stress, steering India to a commanding victory over Pakistan of their extremely anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 conflict on the Dubai Worldwide Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The fashionable-day batting maestro introduced up his 51st ODI century in spectacular trend, making certain India efficiently chased down Pakistan’s 241-run goal with a composed and well-paced knock.
With this complete win, India solidified their place on the high of Group A, whereas Pakistan now finds themselves in a precarious state of affairs. A second consecutive defeat implies that their semifinal hopes are hanging by a thread. Rizwan and his males should now depend on Bangladesh to defeat New Zealand on Monday, earlier than defeating Bangladesh themselves of their remaining group-stage match. Even then, Pakistan’s qualification hopes will relaxation on internet run charge calculations, making this loss much more crushing.
Virat Kohli’s Century: A masterclass in chasing below stress
Batting with immense composure and dedication, Kohli crafted a sensational unbeaten 100 off 111 deliveries, anchoring India’s chase to perfection. His innings was an ideal mix of flawless shot choice, impeccable timing, and tactical acceleration, making certain Pakistan by no means had an opportunity to claw their method again into the competition.
Essentially the most poetic second of the match arrived on the final ball, when Kohli reached his century with a surprising boundary, sealing India’s victory in dramatic model. His innings featured seven elegant boundaries, every a testomony to his exact footwork and unwavering focus.
Kohli was ably supported by Shreyas Iyer, who registered a vital 50 off 63 balls. Iyer began cautiously, absorbing stress early on, earlier than shifting gears within the center overs to maintain India’s chase on observe. The duo’s partnership was instrumental in guiding India to the end line, making certain there have been no last-minute hiccups.
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Quickest to 14,000 ODI runs: Kohli creates one more file
Throughout his sensational knock, Kohli achieved one more historic milestone, changing into the quickest batter to attain 14,000 ODI runs. He completed this feat in simply 287 innings, shattering the earlier file held by Sachin Tendulkar (350 innings).
Kohli additionally surpassed Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara (378 innings), reaffirming his standing as probably the most dominant run-scorers within the historical past of ODI cricket.
The historic second arrived when Kohli reached 15 runs throughout India’s chase, marking one other chapter in his illustrious profession. Curiously, Kohli had reached 13,000 ODI runs in opposition to Pakistan as effectively, through the Asia Cup in Colombo in September 2023, making this milestone much more particular.
Pakistan’s batting struggles: Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya lead India’s bowling assault
Earlier within the day, Pakistan’s batting faltered but once more, as they had been bowled out for 241, regardless of being in a promising place at one stage. Saud Shakeel top-scored with a resilient 62 off 76 balls, whereas skipper Mohammad Rizwan labored to 46 off 77 deliveries. The duo stitched collectively a 104-run partnership for the third wicket, providing Pakistan some stability after early wickets.
Nonetheless, simply when Pakistan appeared set to speed up, India’s bowlers struck again with precision and management. Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav (3/40) was the choose of the bowlers, dismantling Pakistan’s center and decrease order along with his misleading variations. All-rounder Hardik Pandya (2/31) delivered two essential blows, dismissing each Babar Azam (23) and Shakeel, which shifted the momentum firmly in India’s favor.
Regardless of Khushdil Shah’s preventing knock of 38 off 39 balls, Pakistan failed to achieve any actual momentum in direction of the demise overs, in the end setting a below-par whole of 241, which India chased down comfortably. With two wins in two video games, India has nearly sealed their place within the semifinals, whereas Pakistan now stares at an early exit, needing a miracle to remain alive within the match.
Right here’s how Twitter reacted:
During the last 15 years, I’ve typically rooted for Virat Kohli to get a century. Not often has he deserved yet another than right this moment and infrequently have I been as emotionally invested in watching him rating it! Congrats, @imViratKohli! pic.twitter.com/Oi83RYMJmt
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 23, 2025
Match successful 💯 from Virat Kohli 👏
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 23, 2025
On a tricky pitch Virat kohli does it once more.. loves batting in opposition to Pakistan.. nice participant, nice ambassador. #INDvsPAK
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) February 23, 2025
💯 Century Numero. 8️⃣2️⃣ for King Virat Kohli. 👑
📸: Star Sports activities | #PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #CT2025 #PAKvIND pic.twitter.com/2IB1UtKfio
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) February 23, 2025
What a match! Congratulations to Group India on a unbelievable victory! A particular commendation to @imVkohli for that sensible century! Wishing the workforce all the very best for the remainder of the match. Preserve the momentum going, boys! 🇮🇳 @BCCI #INDvsPAK #ChampionsTrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/1LKQzHMqFV
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) February 23, 2025
Cometh the hour cometh the King! Properly performed @imVkohli 👏🏻 #INDvPAK #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/yQZDWa7JzM
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) February 23, 2025
Century by the GOAT @imVkohli . Congratulations Indiaaaaaaa 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 🔥🔥🔥#INDvsPAK pic.twitter.com/c61ZBWRoD9
— Wazhma Ayoubi 🇦🇫 (@WazhmaAyoubi) February 23, 2025
No file too massive for @imVkohli👑#ChampionsTrophy #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/h4kQOZPLbT
— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) February 23, 2025
What a participant @imVkohli
What a win for India#ViratKohli@BCCI #INDvsPAK #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/SSA8nVpr51— Munaf Patel (@munafpa99881129) February 23, 2025
Properly Performed, Group Bharat! 🇮🇳
ICC चैंपियंस ट्रॉफी के एकदिवसीय मैच में भारत की पाकिस्तान पर शानदार जीत पर हार्दिक बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएं!@imVkohli को शानदार शतकीय पारी के लिए हार्दिक बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएं। युवा खिलाड़ियों का जोश, आत्मविश्वास और उत्कृष्ट प्रदर्शन हर भारतीय के लिए गर्व… pic.twitter.com/Jj6hwOVP9U
— Ravi Kishan (@ravikishann) February 23, 2025
India triumphs but once more! 🇮🇳
An exciting six-wicket victory over Pakistan within the Champions Trophy 2025 brings us one step nearer to the semi-finals! 🏏
Hats off to @imVkohli for his breathtaking century 💯, a real masterclass in resilience and ability. The Males in Blue proceed to… pic.twitter.com/VgeuNjmjOg
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) February 23, 2025
