‘King’ Virat Kohli once again delivered on the big stage, producing a sublime unbeaten century to guide India to a six-wicket win over Pakistan in their crucial Champions Trophy Group A clash at the Dubai International Stadium.
His 51st ODI ton, a masterclass in control and precision, helped India chase down the 242-run target with ease, securing a victory with 45 balls to spare.
On a tricky surface, Kohli anchored the chase with remarkable composure, his 111-ball knock featuring seven elegant boundaries. He shared a match-winning 114-run stand with Shreyas Iyer (56), ensuring India never lost momentum despite early setbacks.
The veteran batter’s ability to rotate strike and punish loose deliveries was on full display, reaffirming his reputation as one of the finest chasers in the game.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma lauded Kohli’s performance, emphasising that his brilliance was no surprise to those in the dressing room.
Virat loves representing the country. He wants to be out there playing for the team and doing what he does best, which is what he did today. People in the dressing room aren't surprised with what he did.
Rohit also credited the team’s bowlers for setting up the win by restricting Pakistan to 241, with Kuldeep Yadav (3-40) and Hardik Pandya (2-31) leading the charge.
The way we started with the ball was a great effort from the bowling unit. We wanted to back the experience we have in our batting line-up to go and get those runs.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Rohit acknowledged the collective effort that contributed to the convincing victory.
Everyone came to the party and did what was required of them. A lot of credit goes to the players. We’ve played a lot of cricket together, especially in this format. The way the guys have been planning and executing has been excellent.
With this victory, India edge closer to securing a semi-final berth, while Pakistan face an uphill battle to stay alive in the competition. Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan admitted his side fell short with the bat, stating that 280 would have been a more competitive total.
We thought 280 was a good score on this pitch, but they bowled very well and put us under pressure. We have to improve our fielding and overall execution in the upcoming matches.
As India celebrate yet another triumph over their arch-rivals, Kohli’s latest masterclass serves as a reminder of his enduring brilliance and hunger for success on the grandest stage.
It feels good to bat in that manner in an important game, where a spot for the semis was there to be taken after Rohit fell. My job was clear - to control the middle overs, not take risks against spinners, and take on pacers.
The star batsman went on to reveal that he was ‘happy with the template’ as it was was his style of play in ODIs.
I have a decent understanding of my game. It's about keeping the outside noise away, taking care of my energy levels and thoughts. It's easy for me to get pulled into expectations and the frenzy around games like these. I kept telling myself I'll give my 100% while fielding. It's why I take pride in it. When you put your head down and go about your work, things work out.
“I have a decent understanding of my game. It's about keeping the outside noise away, taking care of my energy levels and thoughts. It's easy for me to get pulled into expectations and the frenzy around games like these. I kept telling myself I'll give my 100% while fielding. It's why I take pride in it. When you put your head down and go about your work, things work out.”
