India vs Pakistan ICC Champions Trophy: India Crushes Pakistan, Virat Kohli Slams 51st ODI century

India vs Pakistan ICC Champions Trophy: – A sensational all-round performance, spearheaded by a vintage Virat Kohli century and disciplined bowling, powered India to a commanding six-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in an ICC Champions Trophy clash at Dubai International Stadium.

Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 51st ODI century (100*) anchored India’s chase as they comfortably overhauled Pakistan’s 242-run target in just 42.3 overs. This emphatic win not only reinforced India’s stronghold in the tournament but also pushed Pakistan to the brink of elimination.

Virat Kohli Scripts History Yet Again

The night belonged to Virat Kohli, who not only silenced critics with a chanceless knock but also etched his name in the record books by becoming the fastest batter to reach 14,000 runs in ODIs. Virat Kohli reached the milestone in 287 innings, breaking Sachin Tendulkar (350 innings) and Kumar Sangakkara (378 innings). The Indian master is now only the third player to reach this milestone, after Tendulkar (18,426 runs in 463 ODIs) and Sangakkara (14,234 runs in 404 matches).

Adding to his tally of honors, Kohli also broke Mohammad Azharuddin’s record of the most catches by an Indian in ODIs. The 36-year-old completed his 157th catch to remove Naseem Shah and took his total to 158 by taking out Khushdil Shah in the last over.

Pursuing 242, India made a good beginning before losing Rohit Sharma (20 off 15) to a precise yorker by Shaheen Shah Afridi. Though Pakistan had the initial breakthrough, Kohli was not deterred, building a vital 100-run stand with Shreyas Iyer (56 off 67).

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Iyer’s knock was marked by a thumping 103-meter six off spinner Salman Agha, while Shubman Gill had scored a smooth 46 before being dismissed by a trick carrom ball by Abrar Ahmed. Iyer had also been put down by Saud Shakeel, and Pakistan were left to rue their lack of judgment as he and Kohli took India home comfortably.

India’s bowling lineup earlier in the day set the team up for victory by keeping Pakistan to a small total of 242. The Men in Green began conservatively with Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam, but Hardik Pandya’s strait-laced lines and decisive breakthroughs clipped their wings.

Pakistan’s opening order battled India’s steady bowling. Pandya got Azam out in the eighth over, playing an edge to KL Rahul. Then, Imam got run out off a good throw from Axar Patel. A crucial 104-run stand by Mohammad Rizwan (46 off 77) and Shakeel (62 off 76) presented some resistance, but a period of prolonged drought from boundaries accumulated pressure. Rizwan’s departure while going for an aggressive stroke against Patel instigated the collapse.

Spin bowler Kuldeep Yadav (3/40) tore through Pakistan’s middle order, while Axar Patel (1/49) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/40) restricted the run flow. Patel’s two direct-hit run-outs further added to Pakistan’s woes. Lower-order batsmen Salman Agha, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah got out cheaply, as Kuldeep completed the innings. Khushdil Shah (38 off 39) rallied with two late sixes, one of which was Pakistan’s first of the innings in the 41st over, but his resistance was futile as he was caught by Kohli off Harshit Rana.

With this dominant win, India has all but secured a semifinal berth in the ICC Champions Trophy. Pakistan, on the other hand, faces an early exit unless they produce an extraordinary turnaround in their remaining matches. Kohli’s scintillating form and India’s all-round performance underline their championship credentials as they march towards the knockout stages with supreme confidence.

Score Summary:

Pakistan: 242 all out in 50 overs (Saud Shakeel 62, Mohammad Rizwan 46; Kuldeep Yadav 3/40, Axar Patel 1/49)
India: 246/4 in 42.3 overs (Virat Kohli 100*, Shreyas Iyer 56; Shaheen Afridi 1/45, Abrar Ahmed 1/46)

India won by six wickets.