Kohli Slams 100, India Breeze Past Pakistan By Six Wickets

Having lost the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against New Zealand in Karachi, Mohammad Rizwan and co are in search of a win in their last group-stage game to keep their semi-finals hopes alive.

India’s batting talisman, Virat Kohli produced yet another ODI classic as India aced a 242-run chase against Pakistan with six-wickets in hand in a high-stakes Champions Trophy encounter.

Coming in to bat after India went one down in the powerplay, Kohli knitted an unbeaten 100 off 111 deliveries to keep the momentum in his side’s favor, bringing up his 51st ODI ton – most by anyone in the format.

The 36-year-old also crossed the 14,000 run-mark to become only the third batter to do so after Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara.

Earlier, the defending champions were handed an early advantage when Shaheen Afridi rammed one onto Rohit Sharma’s stumps to give Pakistan their opening breakthrough.

Having started off the chase on a positive note – bashing three fours and a six – Indian skipper Rohit Sharma was deceived by late movement from the left-armer before getting his stumps rattled in the powerplay.

In-form batter Shubman Gill went on to pile 46 off 52 deliveries. India’s centurion in the opener against Bangladesh took to counter-attacking, lacing seven boundaries during his stay.

Abrar Ahmed eventually got rid of the Indian opener as he snuck in an absolute ripper to produce a much-needed breakthrough. With Gill closing in on a half-century, Abrar deceived the right-hander with a leg-breaker that crashed into his off-stump.

Kohli then, partnered alongside Shreyas Iyer after the loss of the two wickets, with the duo stitching together a 114-run stand. Iyer also brought up his half-century as India crossed the 200-run mark in the 37th over.

But just as Iyer was cruising to comfortably close out the game, Pakistan grabbed two wickets in quick succession.

Imam-ul-Haq latched onto a fine catch off Khushdil Shah to get rid of Shreyas Iyer (56). Incoming batter Hardik Pandya lasted only six deliveries before he nicked one behind to Mohammad Rizwan off Shaheen Afridi. Eventually, Kohli would see through the chase alongside Axar Patel with 45 deliveries in hand.

Earlier, Kuldeep Yadav turned up the ante with the ball to lead India’s push with the ball in the Champions Trophy heavyweight clash against Pakistan in Dubai.

The left-arm spinner snared Salman Ali Agha and Shaheen Shah Afridi off successive deliveries before claiming Naseem Shah as India managed to dismiss Pakistan for 241.